Support 150 Tuberculosis Patients in Moldova

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.