IT was interesting to see two letters in the Echo recently (Audrey Cox & Helen Davis, November 15 & 18) on the subject of TB.

Your readers may be interested to know that local, registered charity Chesthelp has been helping TB patients in the BH postal area and suffering financially as a result of their illness since 1947. Then, from 2014, we have also been providing similar assistance to patients diagnosed with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).

Far from being eradicated from the UK, TB is still a significant problem. The excellent East Dorset TB Service, based at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, refers suitable patients to us at Chesthelp and in the past 12 months, we have helped around 20 local TB patients with nutrition and heating, so vital for their treatment and recovery.

London has the dubious title of the TB capital of Western Europe, so Ms Davis’s letter is very timely in reminding us that drug resistant strains of the TB bacteria are a significant threat to world health.

If you would like to know more about the work of Chesthelp, please visit our newly refurbished website chesthelp.org . We are financed purely by donations and our fundraising efforts, with postage being the only overhead, so you can donate from that site if you wish or contact me, if you would like an invitation to our 70th Anniversary Dinner being held on April 7 next year.

Rob Phillips

Stourwood Road, Bournemouth