Stop TB Partnership

TB Education and Support in Action in Ghana

By Josephine Agbo - Integrated Development in Focus (Ghana)

I never knew I had TB after two years of intermittent coughing. I always purchased drugs from the pharmacy close to my house and it worked for some time, but then the cough would start again. A friend told me that my cough is a result of my work at the timber market and the saw dust I inhale. I travelled to my home town and returned shortly as I felt very weak and sick. My situation was getting only worse as the days went by. I was discouraged from visiting the hospital because some friends gave spiritual meaning to my condition emphasizing that if I am touched by a syringe that will be the end.

The spiritualist/herbalist prepared some herbal medicine for me to drink, but the situation just got worse. I was disheartened and thought I would die soon because I started to cough up blood. I began to lose weight and lost my appetite so I ate and drank very little. My son returned from school with handouts on basic TB information which I read and found myself in the picture too. I then made secret arrangements with the trained TB volunteer in my community. He educated, motivated and assured me that treatment was free. He went with me personally to the hospital where I was diagnosed TB positive.

The education and support that the volunteer gave me helped and strengthened me as I promised to adhere to the drugs. Though the drugs were not easy to take, I saw improvement after the first two months and believed I would be better. Today I am cured and working, thanks for the care, visits, support and the encouragement that I received from the volunteer and my family.