Photo: Christina Ben in Malawi, holding her seven week old baby, talking to TB Alert’s Community Health Worker.
Over 200,000 pregnant women develop TB each year, and pregnancy often disguises its symptoms. Without early diagnosis and effective treatment, the lives of both mother and baby are at risk.
Thank you to everyone who donated to our 91热爆 Radio 4 Appeal, we raised £16,289, in which Felicity Kendal shared Rebecca’s story.
Rebecca, a young woman in Zimbabwe, feared for her life and her unborn baby when she fell ill with the same symptoms that had killed her five sisters. Rebecca’s life was saved by a chance encounter with one of TB Alert’s trained outreach workers, Cecilia, who heard Rebecca coughing in the village store. Cecilia ensured that Rebecca received the diagnosis and treatment she needed, and also arranged for Rebecca’s husband Ibbo, a carpenter, to be tested for the disease. He was diagnosed in its early stages, before he became too ill to work. Today they expect a secure future together with their son, Chatunga, who is now a year old.
Sadly, Rebecca is not alone in developing TB in pregnancy. In fact, this normally joyous time is when women are most vulnerable to TB, as their bodies change to support their growing babies. Over 200,000 pregnant women develop TB each year, and pregnancy often disguises its symptoms. Without early diagnosis and effective treatment, the lives of both mother and baby are at risk. This is why your support has helped continue TB Alert’s work to identify and treat TB among women and children.
When 26-year-old Christina in Malawi, began to feel ill she was confused by her symptoms. The nausea and weight gain made her wonder if she was pregnant, but she could not understand why she also had chest pains and a cough. Fortunately, Christina’s friend had learned about tuberculosis through TB Alert’s outreach work and suggested Christina make contact with TB Alert’s Community Health Worker. As a result, Christina was referred to the district hospital where it was confirmed that she was both pregnant and suffering from TB.
Our health worker supported Christina throughout her pregnancy and TB treatment. She reassured her that the treatment did not put Christina’s baby at risk, and our project team explained the importance of nutrition and provided supplements to support Christina’s pregnancy and recovery. Christina was cured of TB and her baby was born in December. She named him Chisomo (Divine).
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