WORLD TB DAY -LIVING TESTIMONY

Story by Sammie Mugane

WORLD TB DAY -MY WIFE'S LIVING TESTIMONY WITH TB

On 4th Feb 2013 my wife Alice was diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) at Embu General Hospital after being ill for a long period of time. We had gone to various hospitals in Kirinyaga County, both public and private but the cause of her chest problem could not be established. She would cough blood and her physique had become emaciated. She could make whissing sound as she breathed...
My gal was in deep pain that even lead her to stop working where she was employed.
Charity is a witness to this as she was working with her.
My life then became rather difficult as I was solely the bread winner of my family. She could not do any work and I even had to employ women to do laundry. Our attempts of seeking medical attention from hospitals were futile until we went to Embu Level 5 Hospital (then Embu General Hospital) and got some reprieve on 3rd Feb. 2013.
At the hospital she was checked and samples taken from her body. After a day long the doctor called us to his room and told us my wife had generated 1st stage TB infection and we had to get an xray test the following day.
The following day we had the xray test conducted and the film as you can see on the xray film confirmed half of one of the lungs had been affected.

Xray film showing one of the lungs in a bad state

Hospital documents from Embu Level 5 Hospital

We had to put up with the results however sad it was. She was put on TB drugs for 8 months and was required to take them daily (4 tablets a day) and attend weekly clinic at the hospital. I was also advised to put her on bed rest for 6 months until she fully recovered. It was a hectic moment as I was everything in the house and don't forget I was the bread winner solely. Another big problem was that she was advised not to share cups and spoons with us in the house as a preventive measure to avoid contracting the same to others.
After completing 8 month dose she stated regaining her strength and later got completely healed.
She's now a strong woman and a living testimony that TB has cure (TB ina tiba).
As we celebrate World TB Day she comforts those with TB has cure if one can adhere to ways of preventing and curing it. She advises those on TB drugs to take them as prescribed and attend clinics as adviced...
If  God cured my wife of TB everyone else can also get cured.Thanks for her courage and resilience during that tumultuous moment.....

                                                           TB INA TIBA!!!