Walpole Resident Awarded at Mass. Statehouse World No TB Day Event

Walpole resident Dipak Desai was recognized with a “TB Honor Roll Award” at the 2013 “World No TB Day” Event held at the Massachusetts State House on March 26th.
 
The Medical Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Tuberculosis (MACET), a group of physicians and other TB experts focused on Massachusetts, held the event attended by over 140 state legislators, Department of Public Health officials, physicians, nurses and community members.
 
Desai was honored for his work at the Division of TB Prevention and Control of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Seven individuals from across the state were selected for a “TB Honor Roll Award” which honors local men and women from across the Commonwealth who made extraordinary contributions to protect communities from the contagious and potentially deadly threat of tuberculosis in a special awards ceremony.
 
In addition, Desai received state citations from State Senator James Timilty and  Representative John Rogers, as well as from Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz and Rep. Liz Malia who represent the district of his place of work.
 
During the event, physicians and TB experts presented key information about the disease’s impact on the health, safety and economy of the Commonwealth.
“More than 300,000 residents of Massachusetts are living with TB infection.  That’s five Fenway Park’s full of people living with TB infection!” said Cynthia Tschampl, MACET Government Relations Subcommittee Co-Chair.
 
TB is the second leading cause of infectious death worldwide (second only to HIV) and can be passed by activities as innocent as breathing in the vicinity of a person with the contagious form of the disease. 

“Three deaths occur every minute of every day due to TB!,” said Sue Etkind of Milton who won the TB Hero Award and is currently STOP TB USA’s Executive Director.  She continued, “This is a completely preventable, treatable, curable disease.”
 
Massachusetts’ Department of Public Health protects those who live and work in the Commonwealth from TB through its Division on TB Prevention and Control.  Dr. Lauren Smith, Interim Commissioner said, "It takes a lot of energy and resources to maintain a program like this."