· The Lung Association, Saskatchewan evolved from the Saskatchewan Anti-Tuberculosis League which was founded in 1911, making us Saskatchewan’s oldest health charity. Between 1911 and 1987 the League led the movement for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of TB. · TB is a serious disease caused by breathing in a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB usually infects the lungs but can also infect other parts of the body, including the kidneys, spine and brain. · To fight this highly contagious disease, the Saskatchewan Anti-Tuberculosis League raised vital funds that supported patient care provided through the sanatoriums. Featured in this newsletter is the Fort Qu'Appelle Sanatorium, (the San/Fort San) which was opened in 1917. · Saskatchewan was the first province to make the care and treatment of TB free of charge and the League’s advocacy efforts and knowledge helped decision makers make a good choice to make the fight against TB a priority. Few patients could afford to remain in the sanatorium until they were fully healed and for those patients the League provided compassionate financial support to as many as they were able to with the funding they had available. |