Mumbai, India- Namrata’s story is a testament to the timeless principle that consistency is crucial. Her disciplined approach to maintaining a routine, embracing a healthy lifestyle, and adhering to medication regimens demonstrates that even formidable conditions like drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) can be overcome.
In 2016, Namrata was employed at a daycare in an international school in Chembur, Mumbai. Just five months into her job, she began to experience persistent fever, cough, loss of appetite, body aches, and chest pain. Having undergone two abortions previously, she initially attributed her symptoms to post-procedural weakness.
Financial constraints meant Namrata’s family couldn’t afford basic diagnostic tests such as X-rays and blood tests. After visiting numerous private hospitals over several months, she eventually arrived at Govandi Shatabdi Hospital, where she was diagnosed with Multi-Drug Resistant TB. Her treatment commenced in 2017, with an expected recovery timeline of two years, contingent on strict adherence to medication and nutritional guidelines. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières co-manages the TB outpatient department at Govandi Shatabdi Hospital in collaboration with the National TB Elimination Program and the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai.
Despite severe side effects like moderate vision loss and vomiting, Namrata was determined to discontinue her medication. However, with unwavering support from MSF counsellors, she persevered and completed her treatment.
As a woman, Namrata faced numerous responsibilities, including household duties. Her DR-TB diagnosis was met with skepticism by her family, who struggled to understand the debilitating side effects of her medication. Often fatigued and lethargic, she was advised to rest, but her family perceived her as indifferent and unwilling to fulfill her role as the ‘ideal’ daughter-in-law.
Namrata explains that her family initially resisted and misunderstood her condition due to a lack of awareness about tuberculosis and its treatment side effects. OPD counsellors intervened, educating her family to ensure she received the necessary support at home.
By June 2018, Namrata successfully completed her treatment and has remained DR-TB free since. Starting in January 2019, she began facilitating support group meetings for other TB patients, sharing insights on nutrition, side effects, and the importance of discipline based on her personal journey.
Namrata believes overcoming TB requires immense mental fortitude. Through her social work, she aims to empower and support as many patients as possible, helping them join a broader community of health workers and educators.
