Day 5

Today I went on a "field visit" with Dr. Suballa to the surrounding districts to check up on Multi Drug Resistant TB patients. When I told my mom I was going on a field visit she thought I was going to be spending the whole day in actual agricultural fields in +100 degree F weather. Thankfully I did not subject myself to the risk of heat stroke as many people must do for a living. Instead I went to rural villages/agricultural slums. 

Every MDR TB patient has a DOC Provider, or a community member who logs his or her administration of the daily TB medicine for the patient. This is the daughter of one man's Doc Provider. She did all of the talking on her mothers' behalf, very maturely I must add. 

This little man... I just thought he was cute cause he was dressed like a little man. 

Four families live in this TB patient's small residence. 

This patient was suffering from severe psychological side effects from the medicine, including anxiety. He is holding the packets for his last month of medicine (out of a total of 24 months). He experienced many other side effects to the point that he convinced himself he was not cured and was continuing to experience the symptoms of TB. The doctor had to reassure him he would be fine. He is unmarried and plans to marry after he is cured. 

Next to the TB patient's house is a community preschool. These boys randomly found flags and paraded them into class. 

This is the preschool. The Indian government manages one community preschool for every 1000 citizens living in rural areas. The preschool provides injections, vaccines, and vitamins for pregnant mothers, and provides each child a free, nutritious breakfast every day until the age of 5. These preschools have been erected in efforts to prevent infant mortality/malnutrition. 

This boy's face did not move for 20 minutes as he watched us adults talk. I found it super funny. 

What you talkin bout Willis?

Dr. Suballah

This TB patient wasn't at home so we had to track him down at the local park where he hangs out with other men in the shade. He quit his work as a farmer once he was diagnosed and hired laborers for his land. He's also on his last month of treatment and seems rather happy. His only side effect is a "burning stomach."

The park is more of a circular outdoor seating area surrounded by super tall palms and eucalyptus trees. It was super cool and shady under there. 

View from the park. The fields were pretty. 

This TB patient's wife left him with his children once she found out he had TB. He now lives with his father under this thatched roof. 

This is his DOC provider, who lives next door. She's holding her first son. I love babies. 

We went to a government-operated health clinic that is sponsored by various organizations, including World Vision. The clinic provides health care for leprosy, TB, and HIV. We met this TB patient at this health clinic. His wife told us he wasn't taking his medicine properly because he had an irritable digestive system from the side effects. The doctor later realized that he had actually just gotten sun stroke from walking to a cinema hall in the middle of the afternoon.