This episode explores the challenges of eradicating tuberculosis (TB), a curable disease that still causes over a million deaths annually, featuring author John Green, who discusses his book "Everything is Tuberculosis." Green highlights the disparity between the existence of a cure and its accessibility, particularly for impoverished populations, noting that TB is an exemplary disease of injustice. Against the backdrop of his personal experience in Sierra Leone, where he met a young TB patient named Henry, Green emphasizes the human cost of the disease and the systemic failures in delivering treatment. More significantly, the conversation pivots to the financial aspects, revealing that an estimated $25 billion annually is needed to eradicate TB globally, a figure that is substantial in global health but potentially manageable within the tech sector. As the discussion progresses, Green addresses the empathy gap between the rich and poor worlds, advocating for solutions like leveraging social media to raise awareness and reshape market incentives to prioritize TB treatment over more profitable ventures. Ultimately, Green envisions a world where TB is rare and readily curable, akin to typhoid, advocating for increased public awareness, proactive case finding, and public-private partnerships to achieve this goal.
