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An estimated 10 million people are infected with active tuberculosis (TB) each year, and around 1.6 million die from the disease, making it one of the world’s top infectious killer today.
Early detection, proper treatment as well as the patient’s willingness to be cured are big factors in the full recovery of the people with TB (PwTBs). However, many PwTBs aren’t going in for treatment because of stigma. That’s why we need to make the TB discussion as common as ones about the common flu. And for the PwTBs to receive the same support and care we give when someone is down by this typical infection.
This four-part story highlights the personal experience of a person who was diagnosed and currently undergoing treatment for TB disease. Her name is Ivy*.
As a young homemaker, Ivy’s attention was on her family. She has a simple life with her 4 young children and her live-in partner. However last February 2020, she got ill. And during the pandemic, she faced many barriers before she was diagnosed with Pulmonary-TB and received proper treatment.
Though frightened, Ivy was relieved when she was told she has TB, because she finally knew what was wrong with her and that it could be cured. Her treatment began immediately, and her mother and husband were a big help to Ivy’s medication. They strongly believe that accompanying her to the health center, reminding her about medicines, and giving meals to her makes her feel very well taken care of. IVY is thankful that her husband always has a ready sympathetic attitude towards her and that her mother remains by her side.
“You don’t get TB for any other reason than you just happen to get it – that’s just life. But TB is curable. And I believe that is the main thing. A lot of people think you just die from it. But obviously, you don’t. I’m still here!”
Yes, Ivy’s life continues. While she is still undergoing treatment, Ivy has decided to take up her college course thru online education.
Ivy would have never guessed how much her life would turn around because of TB and wishes to see the day when TB doesn’t exist anymore. She experienced the side effects of TB medication, the difficulties of undergoing treatment, the mental and psychological impact, and want to raise awareness about this disease, including the importance of getting tested and adhering to treatment. Believing she has an integral part to play through advocacy, she said “I believe that my personal journey can help in the advocacy in the prevention, identification, and treatment of TB.”
The fight against TB is a winnable battle. It’s time to remove the stigma associated with TB, for PwTBs to be heard, and for them to be taken more care of. And the voices of people like Ivy provide important perspectives and are a powerful tool for advocacy to accelerate the TB response and reach all affected people with prevention, detection and care.
This series/story is a part of the #TBFreePH campaign, the official TB health promotion and communication strategy of the Department of Health which aims to help the National TB Control Program (NTP) in finding and treating 2.5 million Filipinos with TB by 2022. With the support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and other development partners, #TBFreePH hopes to convince more Filipinos in knowing their TB status and getting tested and treated for TB. Follow #TBFreePH on https://www.facebook.com/TBFreePH.
*Name has been changed at the patient’s request
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