Children suffer the consequences of poor TB infection control
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"I asked my daughter to leave the child with me for a short while because my biggest concern was that, maybe, she was not being fed well," explains Thab'sile.
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The short stay was to last much longer than that because Thab'sile soon realised that Lindo's problem was much more serious than just malnutrition. She decided to take the little girl to Nhlangano Health Centre. After several tests and scans, Lindo was diagnosed with TB and started on treatment.
When her condition did not improve after a few months on TB treatment, further screening was conducted and Lindo was diagnosed with the much harder to treat MDR-TB. This meant she would be on a long and difficult treatment.
Médecins Sans Frontières' (MSF's) TB nurse at the Nhlangano Health Centre, Joyce Sibanda, recalls, "I had to pray to God to help me because I didn't know how I was going to bear the task of giving the painful injections to such a little child every single day."
The saddest part about all this is that little Lindo did not get drug resistant TB because she had defaulted on previous TB treatment, but she was exposed to an adult with MDR-TB. Unfortunately, the old man suspected of having infected the child, did not practise proper cough hygiene. As a result, he infected a child he was actually very fond of and would never intentionally harm.
"I believe more needs to be done to educate people about TB infection control in this country because many have died or suffered because people do not know what to do to protect others, like covering their mouths and noses when they cough or sneeze" says Lindo's grandmother.
In the meantime, little Lindo has come to appreciate the fact that the injections are being administered to make her feel better. She does not even cry anymore, something that makes the nurses' job that little bit easier.
With her grandmother's nurturing love, Lindo is well on her way to recovery, as evidenced by her weight gain and ever sparkling personality. There is hope!
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