I found a patient who is a 10-year-old child from a family with a TB patient. His father is on TB treatment, however, he has not revealed that to his family. When we wanted to visit him, he said there was no need to go to his place because his wife was not there, and he was alone with his child. When we asked him about the child’s health, he said he was well, his sputum was tested and returned negative, but he has had asthma problems since he was a small child. I advised him to bring him to the hospital to undergo an X-ray test, but he refused and said his son was fine, so we left him.
After two months we went through the streets to give TB education. We passed by some snack sellers and educated them. They said no one had symptoms, but I saw a child buying buns and he was coughing and did not look well. It was the same child of the father on TB treatment. I told my partner that he did not seem to be in good health. We asked him to take us to his house and he agreed. As we were arriving at their place, his father saw us and was shocked. I begged him not to be afraid and I advised him to take the child to hospital and not assume that the child has asthma without him being tested. He agreed but confessed that he didn’t have enough money to take the child for an X-ray, and that was the reason for hiding his child’s health problems. Fortunately, after a week, I was able to get financial assistance from my sibling in Dubai who donated 20,000 shillings as part of her tithe where she was giving back to the needy. I called the father to bring his child for the X-ray, but he claimed to have no fare. After assuring him that he would be refunded his fare, he brought the child to the hospital, after which I took him to the doctor for the X-ray test. The results indeed showed that the child had TB and acute pneumonia, and was put on treatment. One month later, the child is doing better and has resumed school, as he couldn’t attend due to his illness. All of this is due to the success of the health communication training. I ask that there should be a continuation of this training.
THANK YOU, AND MAY GOD BLESS THE FACILITATORS OF THE TRAINING.
Source: Anonymous