Support 150 Tuberculosis Patients in Moldova

As a neighboring country, Moldova has witnessed the wrath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and at times the maelstrom of war has come eerily close to us. At Speranta Terrei, we have added services for traumatized waves of Ukrainian refugees. We organized tuberculosis (TB) screening and medical check-ups, distribution of non-perishable food, transport to and from the border, and music and craft activities to soothe children and give them a diversion from their losses.

On March 7, a Russian strike on the Novodnistrovsk hydroelectric plant in Ukraine, upstream of Balti on the Dniester (Nistru) River, contaminated our city’s water supply (https://apnews.com/article/moldova-ukraine-water-pollution-russia-war-15444cfde592efb1bc4862fe75458231). The Moldovan government issued an environmental alert because oil pollutants had flowed into the river, this resulted in the shut-off of Balti’s water system. Long lines at water tanker trucks and the elderly and children lugging heavy containers of water became a common sight. In response, Speranta Terrei’s staff purchased large bottles of water to deliver to vulnerable populations in our TB screening program and to TB patients in our Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) program. Although the water supply has been restored and panic buying of bottled water has subsided, Balti residents fear water quality is compromised and they purchase water for drinking and cooking.

On May 13, around 4 o’clock in the afternoon, a Russian drone flew directly over Balti, startling the many residents who were out and about, school children walking home and families shopping and strolling in the central square and park. The drone was low, visible to the naked eye, and loud. Some residents filmed it. The Moldovan government closed temporarily its airspace and declared the transgression a violation of its airspace. A map of the drone’s path over Moldova and other details are in this article:  https://www.moldovamatters.md/p/drone-flies-the-length-of-moldova

In spite of these dramatic events, we try to concentrate on our principal task of controlling TB. Our moderator, Angela, says the patients featured in Speranta Terrei’s last GlobalGiving report are continuing treatment and showing progress. Aliona, who has drug-resistant TB, has improved health and she will soon undergo an interim treatment monitoring test. Ilya, who has drug-susceptible TB, is expected to complete treatment in September or October. According to medical staff, the results of Ilya’s latest examination indicate his treatment regimen is effective.

For World Tuberculosis Day, commemorated annually on March 24, Speranta Terrei distributed educational materials at public information sessions on TB. Speranta Terrei’s president, Feodora, and TB screening manager, Margarita, took part in television broadcasts on TV Nord and ESP.md. Along with other panelists, they discussed TB services available in Balti and the importance of raising awareness, reducing stigma, and promoting early diagnosis, treatment adherence, and social assistance for patients. During the broadcast, Feodora said,“Speranta Terrei has been operating for 20 years, providing support to patients undergoing treatment at home and conducting public awareness campaigns in schools and markets and through local government and the media.” She said, “our organization conducts screening for TB in 5 districts of Moldova and funds from individual donors through GlobalGiving have been critical to our programs.” 

We say a big thank you to our GlobalGiving donors for your unwavering support to TB control.

Links:

• Article on Water Supply Cut
• Article on Drone Over Moldova
• Feodora on TV Broadcast

Angela has been giving Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) to tuberculosis (TB) patients as a moderator for Speranta Terrei since our treatment support program began in 2006. She is a dedicated medical assistant who knows the consequences for patients who interrupt treatment. She takes TB medicine to patients in our home city, Balti, bringing them hope they will recover from TB and regain their health.

On recent visits, Angela’s first stop was to give TB medicine to Aliona, who has drug-resistant TB. This form of TB entails longer treatment with more adverse effects than drug-susceptible TB. Aliona was diagnosed when her mother took her for a consultation with a pulmonologist. Her health had deteriorated considerably, she had lost 15 kg. in a short period of time and she was unable to move independently. Her legs were failing. After a series of tests, the pulmonologist diagnosed her with drug-resistant TB.

Aliona shares an apartment with her brother and his family. For the duration of TB treatment, she receives social assistance. She is not employed, she has no other means of subsistence, and she suffers from alcoholism. Speranta Terrei selected Aliona for home-based DOT due to her high risk of discontinuing treatment. When talking to Angela, Aliona’s eyes well up with tears, the weight of her condition overwhelms her. She tells Angela, “I’m so tired of fighting…Sometimes it feels like I don’t have strength left. I’m afraid I’ll mess everything up again. Thank you for not giving up on me and for helping me go through this treatment. I want to get better, but it’s very hard for me to do it alone…”

Next, Angela goes to give DOT to Ilya, a widower who lives alone. Ilya had undergone TB screening as part of Speranta Terrei’s program to increase case detection among vulnerable groups. Because his son had TB, Ilya was screened as a contact of a TB patient and this led to his diagnosis of drug-susceptible TB. He has other serious illnesses and he had to suspend treatment for some of these while being treated for TB. In consultation with Ilya’s doctors, Angela keeps an eye on possible drug interactions. Ilya says, “I have felt alone with all these illnesses…I even had to stop the other treatment, I’m afraid things might get worse. If it weren't for you, I probably would have given up by now. Thank you for not letting me give up.”

Angela says personalized treatment support is essential to improving TB treatment success rates in Moldova. She says, “I see how Aliona and Ilya are contending with their circumstances and how important my visits are to their cure.” We at Speranta Terrei thank our GlobalGiving donors for contributing to us watching over TB patients.