World Tb Day,2012 Poem by Dr John Celes

(Part of celebrations at IRT PMC, Perundurai)

A hundred years ago, Koch found
The bacillus causing TB,
That gave the world's scientists the ground
To find the drugs as remedy.

Then, TB was a pandemic,
And was called ‘Consumption' that killed
The high and low, as all turned sick
And sanatoria all filled.

Most people feared the ‘phthisis' much;
And treatment was by good food, air;
And nurses gave the magic touch
Of kindness, tender loving care.

The bacilli by droplets spread
To lungs, and every body part;
The person melted, ridden-bed -
A downhill course right from the start!

Then came the anti-TB drugs
That inhibited growth of rod;
A prolonged course thus healed the lungs:
A two year treatment looking odd!

A hundred years from then, today,
Disease is rampant in third world,
As many people huddled stay;
HIV heralds ‘Abscess Cold'!

There is a cure for TB now,
As DOTS and DOTS PLUS can save most;
Unhalted stays the disease, oh,
As people die or it turns worst!

Resistant strains emerge out fast,
Though patients can be healed at home;
No more the disease looks aghast,
As ‘six-months' treatment is welcome!

Yet, millions continue to die,
Despite new drugs and early finds
Of cases, testing that can't lie,
And cures are rather very high!

The war against TB must wage;
The dreaded disease must be stopped;
No one shall die in any age;
Resistant strains must all be mopped!

Let's contribute our mite today;
The fight to STOP TB is on;
All third world nations must find way
As newer diseases are born!

Thank Robert Koch for his work hard;
Thank scientists who find newer drugs;
Thank doctors, nurses in each ward;
All sputa must be freed off bugs!

Written by Dr. A.Celestine Raj Manohar M.D.,
Dean & Prof. of Medicine, IRT PMC, PERUNDURAI
and Dedicated to 'World TB DAY 2012'
‘STOP TB IN YOUR LIFETIME! '
Copyright by Dr John Celes 17-03-2012