Stop TB Partnership

Community Referral Program for DOTS Treatment:
A Life-Saver

By Kazi Moksedur Rahman - Shimantik (Bangladesh)

Mr. Shahab Uddin is a 38-year old dress maker and resides in Azir Market, the Beanibazar sub-district of Sylhet, Bangladesh. Shahab suffered from an unknown and undiagnosed illness for one year, starting in April 2010 that began with persistent coughing. He went to a local pharmacy and was informed that he showed the traditional symptoms of tuberculosis (TB). The pharmacist prescribed a treatment regimen that would be administered at the pharmacy. After several months of treatment, Shahab did not see any improvement in his condition.

Finally, he attended a Shimantik-organized open yard meeting on TB at Das Gram. Shahab received very useful and practical information about TB and DOTS treatment. After the meeting, he went to Smiling Sun Clinic for treatment, but the clinic did not have the proper facilities and medication for TB treatment. As a result, the Smiling Sun Clinic referred him to Upazilla Health Complex DOTS center where he would receive TB services that were operated by the Government of Bangladesh. After Shahab's arrival at the Upazilla DOTS center, he was confirmed TB positive through a sputum lab test and shortly thereafter, he started TB treatment on 22 March 2011 and continued until 19 September 2011. After six months of adherence to the DOTS program, Shahab fully recovered from TB and is eager to share his survival story with others.

UPDATES

The application period for CFCS Round 10 is now closed and the review process is under way

CFCS Round 9 is under way, with grantees continuing implementation