Tuberculosis in Cyprus through the centuries

In English. Soft cover, 24 cm, 152 pp. ISBN: 9789925557042.

"Dr Voniatis takes us through the establishment of the Cyprus Anti-Tuberculosis League in 1936 that managed the construction of sanatoria and dispensaries, and contributed essential epidemiological information through landmark studies. These not only allowed clarity about the burden of disease in the 1930's but also the conclusion that poor social economic conditions and a variety of what we would call today "social determinants of health" were nurturing the epidemic. It was a realisation that more vulnerable people existed and that efforts should be focused on these high-risk populations. A very inspiring section of the book presents the heroes of Cyprus in the fight against TB during the last century. These are remarkable individuals, physicians and nurses who devoted their existence to the fight against TB and this book by Dr Voniatis rightly celebrates them to inspire new generations. Some of these heroes led the historical sanatoria in Cyprus, the history of which is detailed in the section devoted to institutions that were the key to treatment of TB for a good part of the last century. As a reminder of the suffering TB has imposed on humankind for centuries, Dr Voniatis recounts stories of real people - not just statistical numbers - who were affected by, and died from, TB. He tells us of the terrible stigma that was dominant at the time with people buried in the sanatorium cemetery because "their relatives refused to receive the dead for burial". He tells us of a small 3 year old child, Titos, whose last name remains anonymous at his burial site most likely because this would have stigmatized his parents." - From the Preface by Dr. Mario Raviglione, Director Global TB Programme, World Health Organization.