Ex-TB Patients Struggle with Post-Disease Lung Complications
A lot of post-TB patients are struggling, suffering from complications.
DOWA, Malawi— Mavuto Nelson, an ex-TB patient in Dowa district, is said to be struggling with lung damage despite recovering from tuberculosis, writes Meclina Chirwa.
A visit to his place in the area of Traditional Authority Kayembe revealed that Mavuto has been experiencing a lot of breathlessness, and he can hardly walk.
"I started experiencing a lot of breathlessness during the middle of my treatment. My life has been a misery, and the family is suffering," the 38-year-old TB survivor, currently suffering from post-TB lung disease, told AfricaBrief.
According to the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine report of 2019 on post-TB, people affected with post-TB lung disease have shortened life expectancy and an increased risk of recurrent tuberculosis, but predictors of long-term outcomes are not known.
Mavuto, a father of four, has lost hope that one day he will be back on his feet.
"The way it happened, I don't understand until today because I thought it was part of my treatment. I was feeling very weak, not able to walk, to make matters worse, I wasn't breathing properly. I felt bad because I cannot provide for the family," he said.
Despite visiting the Dowa District Hospital, Mavuto complained that he was not properly assisted.
"Yes, I have been going to Dowa District Hospital where I was not properly assisted. I finished my treatment and recovered from TB, yet the problem still exists."
With his situation, Mavuto is unable to provide for his family. "It's very tough, but my wife is trying doing some small businesses. I feel sorry for her," he said.
Mirriam Mwansambo, Dowa district TB officer, explains how the hospital is faring on post-TB disease: "We have strengthened our community engagements, improving the quality of diagnostic and management services, and developing trustful and respectful relationships between us and patients. In addition, we have been trained on how to manage people experiencing lung diseases."
However, there are other TB survivors who suffered from post-TB disease but later recovered. Siyireni Gobede from area 24 had her lungs damaged but went for an impairment process through exercises conducted by Paradizo TB Patient Trust.
Siyireni is a living testimony and explains, "I nearly died because of this condition. But the impairment process through the exercises that Paradizo conducts helped me a lot. I am now a living testimony that it's possible to heal from lung diseases."
Post-TB care goes beyond medical care as some ex-TB patients fail to go back to their previous jobs due to lung impairments, and others require psycho-social support as a result of stigma experienced during TB illness.
Paradizo TB Patient Trust, in conjunction with NOMN, implemented the post-TB rehabilitation project, which aimed at helping those with lung post-TB problems.
"We piloted a project with NOMN and found that there is a need for focusing on those with lung diseases," Bruce Matewere, from Paradizo TB Patient Trust, said.
Maziko Matemba, a health rights activist, said, "We need to look out for the investments we have. In our case, we have been lobbying for more resources towards the ministry of health because there are some patients like those with lung diseases who need attention and care."
Dr. Tisungane Mwenyenkulu, the research, care, and treatment officer for the National TB and Leprosy Elimination Program, commented on the matter: "There are a couple of issues that we are looking into as the National TB and Leprosy Elimination Program. The first issue is to make sure that lung disease is embedded in our national strategic plan, and after that, make sure that we are able to ascertain the magnitude of the issue in the country."
A lot of post-TB patients are struggling, suffering from complications.
According to the key findings by Paradizo Patients TB Trust, 70% of post-TB people had health problems, out of the 70%, 60% had lung complications, 60% reported that health problems affect their daily lives negatively, 59% reported that health problems affect their income negatively while 49% say the health problems affect their social life negatively.