Moving UV Lights to Home for Tuberculosis Control

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 2.9 million women fell ill with TB in 2012, resulting in 410,000 deaths. TB is classified as one of the top killers of women of reproductive age. Peru has the highest incidence of Multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases in South America. Almost 16% of TB patients have primary resistance, many of them being women Infected. Women’s health is further affected by their additional responsibility of taking care of families and children. Poor housing conditions contribute to the spread of TB. Currently, ultraviolet (UV) light is used as an indoor environmental control in medical waiting rooms and commercial environments, but the technology is currently too expensive to introduce in an average family home. Innovators at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia are developing a low-cost LED UV light system powered by solar panels for indoor use in low-income communities. The novel light device will offer an affordable and sustainable air purification method that will decrease TB burden, potentially preventing 200 MDR-TB cases per year in Peru.