Gull Fareen is a resident of Hattar area District Haripur. She is married and has a three years old son. Her Husband is barber and getting meager earning out of it. Gull Fareen’s parents died of TB when she was very young. Before diagnosed with TB she was living in joint family with her in-laws.

Gull Fareen was married happily and was living a healthy life but soon after her TB was diagnosed the scenario of her life changed completely. The relationships changed and so did their behaviors. She became a dejected figure at home and out side as well. However, among all these odd behaviors her only ray of hope was her husband - who stood steadfast with her.

Gull Fareen had cough since long and she contacted many private doctors but they were unable to diagnose the disease. The prescriptions of these doctors proved ineffective as she didn’t get any relief. Upon the query, how she came to know about TB? She said “Once bajis (TAF Team) arranged a programme on TB in our neighborhood. I also participated in the programme where I came to know about TB and the hospital where TB can be diagnosed. As my symptoms were like the one discussed, I feared that I might have TB. I visited Kot hospital and there they took my sputum for test. When my test results came doctor sahib told me that I had TB”.

She told her husband and then her mother in law and rest of in-laws got the information about her TB. The news of Gull Fareen’s disease spread in her neighborhood and every one distanced from her, because of fear that they will also get the disease.

Gull Fareen was bed ridden and was unable to do household chores, but nobody was bothered about it. Her room floor was not cemented and the grass grew there because she was unable to clean it.

Meanwhile I gave birth to son but due to my insufficient food intake he was so weak that he was not getting proper feed from me. As a result he died.

All these atrocities couldn’t deter her courage and she was following regular treatment. Slowly and gradually she started feeling better and was regaining health. Upon seeing her improving health her in-laws also started coming to her home and so did her neighbors. Now everything is ok .She has completed treatment and has started a healthy life. “I can do all my household chores. I am feeling better and happy. Now I will be advising other TB patient to start treatment from Kot (diagnostic center) – as it’s free of cost and quality one”.

Mr. Khalid Khan is an NGO Activist from district Swabi. He is living in a joint family along with his brothers and sisters. He has a beautiful wife and two loving children. He is a committed professional at work, a caring brother, a compassionate father and above all a loving husband at home.

Few months back his wife “Fatima” had successfully completed TB treatment. Like many other TB patients her disease was diagnosed late. This was primarily due to her negligence of TB symptoms which resulted in trying various doctors in private sector. She was suffering form severe cough and temperature but her disease was misdiagnosed. Her husband was very worried about her as her condition was deteriorating day by day. On one fateful day her husband participated in TAF (The Asia Foundation: NTP Partner) awareness session on TB where he came to know about TB symptoms that resembled a lot of her wife illness. Furthermore, he also got information about the diagnostic centers and free of cost TB diagnosis and treatment services. As a result, on the very next day he took his wife to the diagnostic center Swabi where she underwent sputum tests. The results worried him because his doubt was now a reality.

Visualizing the condition of his wife and the attitude of his family towards her, he decided not to disclose his wife’s disease. Even he kept it secret from his wife.

Upon asking why you didn’t tell your wife. He said ”she is very young and weak therefore I don’t want to disturb her because I knew that by getting this news she will undergo the stress which I don’t want.”

He started treatment of his wife by regularly giving medicines to her - till the completion of treatment. His wife was oblivious of the fact that she is suffering from TB.

His sister who is living in his home says” Once my niece came and she told me that aunty might be suffering from TB you should distance yourself from her. When I asked from my brother he replied that i have confirmed from doctor she is having chest problem not the TB”

Slowly and gradually Fatima condition started improving and she completed her eight months treatment. Khalid felt elated when he got her final sputum results, they were clear. After completion of eight months treatment Khalid told his wife and his family that Fatima was having TB and she is cured now. However his wife was not prepared for this shock and she got worried and depressed but Khalid satisfied her by saying “show these results to any expert in this world he will confirm to you that your TB is cured now” with this she felt satisfied as she believed him.

Khalid’s contribution to TB support did not end up here. He approached TAF for getting TB project for his organization (NGO where he works). So far his organization has referred 1099 TB suspect to Yaar Hussein Hospital out of it 78 were confirmed. Among these 78 TB patients 23 are SS Positive while 55 are SS Negative.

Basmeen, an unmarried girl from Yar Hussein, Swabi narrates her story of being a TB patient still living with the desires and hope for a new life – A TB free life. She is illiterate and belongs to a poor family and has no means to earn. She and her mother are dependent upon her brother who is married and having a large family. Being a poverty ridden family there are two TB patients in her family i.e. her mother and nephew. Her mother is having bone TB and is under treatment while, her nephew suffered from Lymph nodes TB and has successfully completed his treatment.

Basmeen was suffering from Chest problem, severe cough and blood in sputum. Unaware of the nature of her disease she tried various health care providers i.e. Hakeem, Private Doctors etc but in vain. Private Doctor diagnosed her TB but due to her financial condition she left the treatment incomplete.

Information about the government free TB diagnosis and treatment services provided by the National TB Programme were a blessing for her, as half worries of financial burden was relieved with it. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed twice with TB and got treatment from Mardan and Swabi diagnostic centers but her symptoms remained persistent with her. These are not only the symptoms of her disease but also the causes of her rejection, depression and agonies which she is facing every day. She clearly remembers initial days of her treatment when her sister in law completely sidelined her. As her utensils were separated and was not allowed to meet her brother’s kids.

Her sister-in-law was always in search of finding excuses of how to get rid of her and finally she succeeded in it. Once she fought with her and separated Basmeen and her mother by putting up a wall inside the house.

When she lost all her hopes and went into disparity, the TAF team arranged session on TB in their neighbor wherein the TAF got information about her. The team approached her brother and after long deliberation succeeded in convincing him. Furthermore, they took comprehensive session with her sister in law on TB, which worked well and she feel embarrassed on what she did to her. Now they are living together with her. It was not only her sister in law who was giving her mental agony but her relatives also did the same. They were cursing her of being a TB patient and even were unwilling to talk to her.

The fear of repetition of her disease had so much engulfed in her that she had lost her hope of getting married and even when she was getting some proposal she was rejecting it with the fear that she will not be able to manage her home. Secondly she was not agreeing with her family views of hiding her disease from the people who were proposing her.

Basmeen’s life is the mosaic of sufferings, deprivations and grief. But in the midst of all these helplessness the only asset she has is her hope of getting cured which is giving her a hope to live and face all these odd situations with courage, patience and determination. She hopes the Day will Come when she will get cured and she will be back into life. Her hope has made her distinguished and outstanding from those who instead of bringing change in their lives are living with difficulties.