Zailu, 20 years, is a college student from Jalukie under Peren district in Nagaland who was diagnosed with TB. She was given treatment by our RNTCP team and has been successfully treated.
Zailu, came to CHC Jalukie on April 2019 with complain of cough and severe weakness. She looked healthy and fine but since symptoms suggested a presumptive TB case, her spot sputum sample was collected. She did produce a good quality sample and her sputum was tested positive so the DTO initiated her treatment after counseling after which she was referred for HIV testing. Her HIV tested negative.
Her sputum was sent to CBNAAT for DST testing and fortunately drug resistance was not detected. She was made to take 3 pills a day for 6 months. She says throughout her TB treatment journey her family has been very supportive. On some days she would get lazy to take the pills but her elder sister who has been her treatment supporter was always there to encourage her and would not let her go until she takes the pills. Also the visit of the supervisor and health workers to her house moved her and made her to think if other people are so much concerned about my health why shouldn’t I give effort after all I who is going to be benefited.
She had so many friends with whom she was hesitant to share about her disease at first but she remembered the counseling she got from DTO who told her not to be shy but instead create awareness to others as an educated student. She decided to share about her TB disease to her friends and told how the drugs are working positively on her health. The disease didn’t have any bad impact on her relationship with her friends who knew well that TB is curable. She had faced some rejections from her friend’s parents and neighbours. During the last Phase of her treatment, her will to fight the disease became stronger and she was taking the pills regularly. Her follow up sputum was negative and so was her last sputum result.
She says she never thought that the free drugs supplied from government hospital will be this effective. She is feeling healthy and is free of TB disease. She is ready to help and is willing to become a treatment supporter of any TB patient in the future.
Her treatment journey exemplifies how a very unsuspecting, apparently healthy and fit looking college girl got the TB infection. Her fear of being isolated from her friends, the rejection of society of her TB disease were overcome. The courage she gained because of the proper counseling and support of the health workers and her family members.
Article contributed by Dr Tiasunup Pongener, State TB Officer (NTEP), Directorate of Health & family Welfare, Nagaland, Kohima
