In the fight against TB
“TB is curable. I want everyone to know this,” says Tirupathamma.
Her son, Anil, 7, recently made a full recovery from Tuberculosis (TB).
“No mother should go through the desperate situation I went through,” she says.
She is moved to tears every time she recalls the pain and suffering of her little son, as he struggled through his battle with TB.
But today, Tirupathamma has a different story to tell. And it’s a story she shares with everyone she comes across. “If I know of anyone who is ill, I advise them to get tested for TB.” explains Tirupathamma.
Tirupathamma and her husband, Ramalu, make their living as agricultural labourers.
“The members of the TB care group visited us every week. They told us not be afraid and helped us with Anil’s treatment,” says Ramalu.
Through the efforts of the TB care groups formed by World Vision’s Arubah Health Project, Anil was diagnosed with TB and was put on treatment immediately. The care groups also ensured that Anil took his medicines regularly and counselled the family.
“Anil had high fever and had lost his appetite. So we took him to the DistrictMedicalHospital,” says Geetha, a member of the Rose TB Care group.
Their TB Care group was formed almost a year ago. The group of ten members meets every month to update themselves about TB. World Vision’s Arubah Health Project provided training for the group regularly.
“Sometimes it’s difficult to convince people to go to the hospital and get tested for TB. But when we tell people over and over again, they listen to us,” explains Sridevi, another member of the group. “We want our villages to be free from TB,” she adds.
World Vision’s Arubah Health Project works in some of the remotest villages in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. The project works towards control and prevention of tuberculosis in the four high-prevalence districts of the state. Through formation of TB care groups, capacity building of registered medical practitioners and follow-up care for TB patients, this project aims to enhance and support the Government’s TB Control Programme for the reduction of TB transmission through an increase in case identification and cure.
“The TB care groups formed by World Vision are making a lot of impact. They have been a great source of motivation for the TB patients to complete the course and be cured. In fact, in many instances, the cured patients have encouraged others under treatment to complete the full course,” says job Reddy, Programme Manager, Arubah Health Project, World Vision India.
Today, Anil is a healthy boy in the II standard. He enjoys Bollywood music.
“I like learning Telegu,” he says. He aspires to become a brave officer of the Indian Police Service.
For Anil’s parents, TB has proved to be a burden beyond their means. They were forced to sell their small piece of agricultural land to support the family during Anil’s treatment when they had to miss work.
Yet, after all the struggle, they are happy that Anil is healthy again. “We want our son to be happy and healthy, nothing more,” says Ramalu.