Support 150 Tuberculosis Patients in Moldova

At the age of 77, Nikolai has been homeless for 10 years and he is worn down from living outside. He was born in the village of Cheorpkany in Ungheni district in northern Moldova. He worked as a repairman on the railroad, he was married twice, and has two daughters.

He recounts how he found himself on the street, without documents, without a home, and without family. His wife left him and even his daughters turned their backs on him. A bus shelter in the center of Stolniceni village in Ungheni district has been his refuge. Here, he has a makeshift bed, clothes in bags, and food from compassionate villagers who spare what they can. A few years ago, local authorities allocated him an abandoned house, tragically it burned down in a fire. Since then, he has been staying at the bus shelter.

A week ago, Nikolai came to the attention of Speranta Terrei’s staff during outreach to screen persons at risk for tuberculosis (TB). A woman who lives near the bus shelter and occasionally helps Nikolai told Speranta Terrei’s president, Feodora (Dora), that he needed help. When Dora approached Nikolai, he began to cry, saying, “I no longer expect help from anyone.” Dora explained why she was asking him questions, why it was important to undergo tests for TB, and how Speranta Terrei could arrange for tests and give treatment support if he were diagnosed with TB. Nikolai’s answers to screening questions were that he experienced coughing, chest pain, blood in phlegm, and fever. Based on these symptoms, Dora recommended Nikolai be selected to go to Ungheni Family Medicine Centre for a medical exam.

Evghenii and other Speranta Terrei staff brought Nikolai food and clothes, arranged a place for him to bathe, and scheduled him for the medical exam. On the day of the bus ride to Ungheni Family Medicine Centre, Nikolai’s appearance was dramatically different. Sitting on the same bench where Evghenii brought him a bag of food and clothes the previous week, Nikolai was ready for the trip. Nikolai has had an x-ray and other tests and he and Speranta Terrei’s staff await the results.

This is the way Speranta Terrei reaches persons such as Nikolai and gets them help for TB diagnosis and treatment and for basic needs. We thank our GlobalGiving donors for helping us to get help for Nikolai and other persons at high risk for TB.