STOP TB

“He is a tough patient. Don’t waste your time on him”.

This is what I was told about 55 year old Kathamuthu whom I spotted with symptoms during a TB Awareness Program for Self Help Group Members. Being a harsh person he had threatened medical staff who had coaxed him to be regular with his drugs during previous treatment.

Initially he lied to me about his previous treatment. After several sessions he came out with the truth and I started him on treatment again, but I did not loose heart when he defaulted within two weeks.

Stationed outside a police station Kathamuthu earns his lively hood working as a cobbler. Being a tough father and husband  his children and wife didn’t share a cordial relationship with him, a result of which he was uncared for and usually ate what the police men from the station gave him.

I located his wife and through continuous dialogues got her back to stay with him. I then spoke to both his son and daughter and made them realize that there was also a positive side in him as no human is bad, it all depends on our circumstances. His children have now taken charge of motivating their dad towards completing his treatment.

This man who was once hostile towards me and avoided my presence understands my work and its purpose and has referred two patients so far and is regular with his own treatment.

Looking back I realize that nothing is impossible, all it takes to reverse a situation is a genuine interest in whatever you do.

Shanthi

REACH Blog Team

A native of Kancheepuram, Kamatchi was in a total mess when I first met her. Having no family to care for her, TB was a total shock to her. When she came to us through her doctor, she was not for the idea of taking treatment through an organization.

I spent several sittings with her and educated her thoroughly on the disease and the strategy through which it could be cured. She finally agreed and took up treatment. Kamatchi was regular with her treatment and I kept a constant tag on her throughout the treatment period making sure she was motivated to complete medication.

Today this 38 year old is cured and is back to her native.

When in Chennai, she makes it a point to call me up and enquire about our team. Hearing her happy voice which was once an echo of sadness and misery, recharges the professional in me to carry on my work with greater zeal.  

REACH Blog Team

Meeting Meenakshi and Jaya was an enriching experience and an awakening to the fact that every human being has the innate capacity to do good.

Meenakshi who is 38 and functions as the head lady for her area, Varma Nagar , Thiruvallur district has been part of the REACH ACSM project for the past one and a half years and has identified ten patients with symptoms and  referred them for treatment, out of which nine have completed treatment and one is on treatment. She is also the DOT provider for three patients and also goes on house visits to the patient’s homes.

“One should not feel shy or hesitate to take treatment. Free treatment is available, this opportunity should be used and not wasted” she says enthusiastically.

Her friend and neighbor Jaya, who is a flower vendor is equally enthusiastic about this role that they play and says she feels very happy to be a facilitator for a good cause and never hesitates to spread the TB message by speaking boldly in meetings and encouraging people to take treatment. She has tremendous family support for the cause and has arranged meetings in her house six times and has been instrumental in curing nearly ten patients.

“People should avoid contracting the disease by eating healthy and maintaining their immunity. Once the presence of symptoms is noticed don’t hesitate to get checked”says Jaya on a positive note………………  

REACH Blog Team

From being CARRIED to being able to WALK

I remember a few months back my colleague Nalini had mentioned that she would be taking a neighbor to the District TB centre as she has been afflicted with TB. She personally accompanied the patient Mrs. Kasthuri a 55 year lady who was so ill that she had to be carried by her son to the centre.
The Senior Treatment Supervisor (STS), Mr.Mohan started her on treatment.

In the initial weeks the patient found it hard to tolerate the medicines and literally cried to her son not to take her to the DTC for the doses.

I saw how Nalini was a bit anxious as to whether the patient would survive the treatment.

In the course of our work, I forgot to enquire about the patient.

During a recent Review Meeting for the Community Support Group leaders at Thiruvellore, I spent some time thanking the STS Mr.Mohan for his support.

Seen in the picture first from the right is Mr. Mohan during a REACH awareness program, extending his support.

He said,”Ms.Nalini brought in a very sick patient who could hardly walk, but after completing our treatment she walked out by herself”

It came to my mind how I had failed to enquire about the patient…

I felt very proud about what my colleague had done.

Sheela Augustine

REACH Blog Team

As I was leaving the main District TB centre after attending the Review Meeting with Community Support Group leaders in Tiruvellore I met the Senior Treatment Supervisor (STS) Mr.Mohan.

I thanked him for his support and this is what he said………………“ Of the people who attended the meeting today, Mrs. Devi is a very dedicated person who has brought 3 patients to me so far and agrees to be the DOT Provider for others too. I need to have people like her to ensure direct observation. Your programs are very useful. Please identify more such people especially in Nemam area. ”

This statement shows how our ACSM work is slowly bearing fruit…

Sheela Augustine

REACH Blog Team

Shanthi at the REACH office

“Tolerance, compassion and a kind nature were personality traits that I carried right from my childhood” says Shanthi, the ten month old staff working at the REACH Sugam Hospital DOTS Centre.

“My paternal aunt who was a spinster and worked as a Corporation Mid wife was my mentor. She played an instrumental role in bringing me up by paying my school fees and providing for my other needs. I grew up in total admiration of her whole hearted care for her patients. Another person from whom I learnt the art of time management, decision making, anger management and positive thinking is my previous director Sister Sophie, at my former job”, adds Shanthi.

Her family is also a great source of support for her excellence in work. They understand her job and are also inclined towards helping people, which is an added advantage for her she feels.

Shanthi handles a large case list and attributes her proficiency in handling these cases to the support extended by the doctors, the RNTCP staff and her colleagues at REACH.

Above all the secret behind the job satisfaction that she enjoys every single day, she says stems down from the love for her job.

“I enjoy my job and that’s what makes all the difference” concludes a happy and satisfied Shanthi.

REACH Blog Team

Parvathy with pleaded me to put her husband back on treatment when I first met her for the default study that REACH has undertaken with Eli Lilly.

Sakthivel had discontinued TB treatment thrice and has been a carrier of the TB bacilli for the past six years. Aged 28 and a skilled construction worker, he also happens to be a severe alcoholic.

Once on treatment he takes the drugs for a few months and then due to the false sense of wellbeing and his habitual vice put together he discontinues treatment. No amount of counseling or persuasion seems to have worked with this man.

Parvathy’s husband had been under admission immediately after both her deliveries and she spent several nights in the hospital nursing her husband and her new borns. Her elder son contracted the disease and was treated and has been cured.

Parvathy says she was able to save her child from the disease but is unable to do the same for her husband.

Parvathy lives in a state of poverty though her spouse earns a decent income which is spent on his drinking habit. She runs the household by washing dishes in a hotel.

I still saw a ray of hope in this frail but pretty woman’s eyes as she said that her husband now seems to realize the severity of the disease and would adhere to treatment if given another chance.

K. Nalini

REACH Blog Team

Ý      Always cough with your mouth covered or use a handkerchief.

Ý               Do not spit on the road.

Ý               If you have a cough for more than 2-3 weeks consult your doctor and test yourself for Tuberculosis

Ý               Take the complete course of 6-8 months for TB.

Ý               Do not be afraid of TB. It’s completely curable.

Ý               Do not consume alcohol, cigarettes, and other addictive substances.

Ý               Exercise for half an hour every day.

Ý               Sleep for 8 hours.

Ý               Eat a balanced diet.

REACH Blog Team

A masters in Social Work with a specialization in Family and Child Welfare, made me have second thoughts whether I would fit into an organization working for TB patients.

 REACH put all my doubts aside by giving me an opportunity to work. My thoughts were continuously clouded with apprehensions about how effective I could be at my job.

However I proceeded to make the best of the opportunity given to me, just as I used every attempt of throwing the ball in to the basket aiming for a good shot, when I  used to play basket ball for my college team.

My experience with the staff at REACH proved to be enriching as I was amazed how each one of them strives to get better at their work and at the same time encourage each other.

I am thankful to GOD for landing me in the right place and I am continuously working at improving my clinical counseling skills to help patients.

Seen in the centre is Vidhya with team mates receiving certificates and medals from Latika Charan, Tamil Nadu's first lady DGP, for championing the game of basket ball.

My motto at college was to reach out to people, which is becoming a reality today through my work at REACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P. Vidhya

REACH Blog Team

“TB affected both my children, but this did not shatter me. Instead it led to the realization that most parents like me in my neighborhood were unaware of Tuberculosis and its treatment.

If my son aged three and daughter aged five were not attacked by the disease I would have remained in ignorance”, says Ellumalai, a driver by profession.

Seen in the picture is Mr. Ellumalai inviting his friends on his mobile to attend the TB awareness program

It is inspiring to see a man so positive in attitude. He is keen that both his children take their treatment regularly and that the ignorance that prevails about the disease and its treatment should be wiped out.

Ellumalai extended his full support in organizing a TB talk for his neighbors and gathered around 40 people at Erikarai Orum, Kancheepuram district to witness a TB sensitization program.

Mr. Joseph singing a TB song to the audience at Erikarai Orum, Kancheepuram district

Hats off to his efforts and attempt to live life to its fullest in spite of life’s limitations   

REACH Blog Team