Esther’s Story: How USAID saved me from drug-resistant Tuberculosis

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Written by Habiba Bello, Jan van Mil and Tristan Bayly (Guest writers)

As Esther passes the measuring tape around her customer’s waist, the smile on her face says it all. She feels elated to be back doing what she loves, making dresses from Adire, a colorful tie-dyed cloth.

Esther only began her treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) just three months ago, but she is already well enough to be back working. Her workshop is filled with colorful fabrics, beautiful dresses, and the tool of her trade, a treadle sewing machine.

 

It was not so long ago that Esther began feeling chest pains and developed a terrible cough.The wet season in Markurdi, Nigeria, had just started, and Estherinitially thought that her symptoms were caused bythe change in the weather. She started self-medicating with drugs she bought at a local pharmacy but hercondition did not improve, andshe began to lose weight. Before long, she was forced to close her shopas she no longer had the strength to continue working.

Closing her shop meant that she could not provide for her family. As the only breadwinner, her parents and two younger sisters,Elizabeth and Ezra,are dependent on Esther and the income from the shop.

Just when Esther had given up all hope of getting better,hope came in the form of one of her customers told her about the USAID-funded Challenge TB project which provides free TB diagnosis and treatment to people who suffered from similar symptoms.

“This really nice customer encouraged me to visit the Teaching Hospital in Benue State. When Iwent to the hospitalthey tested me for free,”Esther explains.

Esther was diagnosed with drug-resistant TB and put on treatment. Her treatment will take up to 20 months, during which she will undergo many painful injections and will have to take many different pills of which some can have nasty side effects.

The first few weeks of injections were horrible. The needle is very big and painful. I have got used to it now, but at first,I really hated that needle.The pills also made me very nauseous, but thankfully this has passed.”

Three months into her treatment Esther hasreturned to work in her shop. Her customers are happy she is back to work as she is one of the few good tailors in the area.

We really missed Esther. It is a bit more expensive to have your clothes tailor-made, but it is definitely worth the extra money,” says one of her customers while Esther takes her measurements.

Business is going well, but Esther realizes that her battle with TB has only just begun. Many people are tempted to stop taking their TB medication once they start feeling betterbut sheknows that taking her medicine every day untilher treatment is completeis the only way she will be completely cured.

“I will do everything in my power to beat this terrible disease. My work not only supports myself but my parents and siblings as well. Being able to go back to work is a blessingwhich I do not take for granted. I just want to thank the Challenge TB project staff for all their help and support during this tough time.”

Esther taking a customer’s measurements– Photo:Habiba Bello

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