Name :
Designation :
Although he is wearing a mask, you can see the hopeful smile in Danish’s eyes when he enters the Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) clinic in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Since 2006 MSF has been providing free-of-cost, specialised healthcare to people living with HIV, drug-resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB), hepatitis B and C and co-infections.
Originally from Madhubani district in Bihar, Danish, a tailor, has been living in Mumbai for the last 10 years. Co-infected with HIV and DR-TB, he started taking medication for DR-TB in a private multi-specialty hospital and research centre in Mumbai. Unfortunately, he was found to have extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB). The drugs used to treat him initially were not effective in improving his clinical condition and he was unable to afford the treatment for XDR-TB in the private setting. The chest physician of the private hospital medically managed his case and MSF facilitated access to Bedaquiline.
Danish was referred to MSF where his other medical needs to treat HIV and TB were taken care of. Besides para-medical and psychological support, MSF provided social support to his family. His children were referred to an NGO for continuous education programme and bridge-course activities. During the two-year course of treatment for XDR-TB, Danish swallowed 16-20 tablets per day as well as took a daily injection during the first eight to 12 months. Like many patients with drug-resistant forms of TB, he encountered side effects from the drugs. “I suffered from sleeping disorders, burning sensations, dizziness, digestion problems, swelling in legs and itching for a while,” Danish says. He was also diagnosed by the MSF psychiatrist of mixed anxiety-depressive disorder, induced by chronic health issues and repeated episodes of hospitalisation.
Taking treatment for XDR-TB meant that Danish’s ARV treatment also had to be changed. His adherence to the ARV treatment regime proved a challenge, but MSF’s patient support team, which provides psychological and social support to patients throughout the duration of treatment, addressed the issues that affected his adherence to treatment. “The patient support team is with the patient continuously. They motivate patients like me to take medicine and food and educate us about the treatment,” Danish remarks.
Praising MSF for the quality of care he has received, he says, “Be it the doctor, nurse, patient support staff or the guard standing at the entrance, they are all very supportive and caring.”
Today, Danish feels better and hopes to start working again soon. “I won’t be able to do hard physical labour, but something to earn a living.”
To the other patients suffering from HIV/DR-TB, his message is: “proper medication, proper diet and proper rest are important. Just don’t take any tension.”
Finally cured of DR-TB in March 2015, Danish is currently receiving only antiretroviral (ARV) treatment from MSF. Danish’s health is now stable and soon he will be transferred out to a government run ARV treatment centre.
