• Zambia

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At first I thought it was malaria. Every one who saw me was very much convinced that I had malaria.

Then later, I developed chest pains, vomiting and continuous fever. I decided to go to Shimukunami health centre and was given a prescription for panadol, fansidar and Brufen. I took this treatment for seven days and felt better.

In Less than one month, I got a malaria like disease again. This time my temperature was very high and so I was rushed to the health centre at Shimukunami and was hospitalised for 5 days. I felt a lot better after being discharged .

Surprisingly, the chest problem did not completely clear off. More often I could experience some very strange chest pains. These pains continued and I got worse. I decided to go and see an African doctor who told me that I had a cough known as ‘amankowesha’ meaning that the cough had come about because of promiscuity. The African doctor also said that the woman I had sexual intercourse with, had an abortion and was not traditionally cleansed and so he gave me some powder and roots of a tree He said that I was to mix the powder with some porridge then eat and for the roots I was asked to soak it in water then drink the fluid 3 times a day.

Nevertheless, I got worse and decided to go back to the clinic, this time I was referred to St. Joseph Mission Hospital were my sputum was examined and I was diagnosed with Tuberculosis .I was then commenced on TB drugs and the DOTS treatment supporters played a very important role in ensuring that I adhered to taking my drugs at the right time as required .The DOTs treatment supporters also would council me and my family on prevention, care and support issues. I must frankly sat that had it not been for the DOTs treatment supporters, I would not have managed because the drugs were too much for me and many times I had wanted to discontinue taking them but the DOTs treatment supporters were always at my house and at times when I was weak they would get the drugs from the hospital on my behalf. Today I’am  CURED from TB and I look well and healthy, my encouraging words to someone who could be in the situation is that do not give up TB is curable and If you want to know more you can contact the Copperbelt Health Education Project ( CHEP) who will give you more information on TB as well as my contact details if you wish to learn more from me. Prevention is better than cure therefore choose life.!!