Section Maligeni never thought he could have TB. When he started coughing in May 2016 “he recalls”, he thought it was just a mild cough or maybe common flu. Without the knowledge of the TB symptoms, he was never on the lookout for it even when he got ill. These factors, and the delay in diagnosis, led to Maligeni’s TB becoming life-threatening.

“When I started coughing I got antibiotics from the doctor for a dry itchy cough. I thought my illness was just a mild one and that the cough would get better. Over the next three months the cough got worse and I began to feel tired, dizzy, sweating and had lost weight so I went back to the clinic where they did a sputum test and I was diagnosed with multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB. I was then hospitalised and put on a 2 year treatment.

As I began to feel better I was sent home and would visit the clinic regularly to get my medication. Maligeni met one of ACHAP’s TB Care project volunteer Ms Dimakatso Dube at Lapologang clinic in Francistown who offered her services. As a volunteer, Dube offers her support services by visiting TB patients at their homes and ensures that they take their medication on time.

While on treatment Maligeni started having hearing challenges which resulted in him losing a sense of hearing, he now hopes to recover the loss of his hearing and he is happy to be completing his treatment this year in August 2018 and feels better than before.

Tymon Setaleng lives in Francistown with his wife Tshepiso Setaleng and their children. Mr Setaleng a retired teacher by profession fell sick at the end of the year 2017.

When Setaleng fell ill he thought his symptoms were just a ‘common illness’, although they were typical of TB: weight loss, loss of appetite, fatigue and night sweats. He knew a little about tuberculosis, but didn’t think he could be at risk.

Setaleng soon became too ill and was continuously coughing. He felt he needed medical attention. When he went to the clinic he met a volunteer from the ACHAP TB Care Project. The volunteer recognised Setaleng’s symptoms and encouraged him to go for voluntary counseling and testing for TB and HIV. Setaleng was diagnosed with TB and tested HIV Negative.

Six months on, Setaleng has completed treatment for TB through directly observed treatment. “I am happy to have completed treatment and I can now say I am healed and feel so much better than before”. “I would also like to thank my wife for supporting me through this journey” said Setaleng

My name is Benson Notice, I am 24 years old and I live in Francistown.

Three months ago, a close friend noticed that I had been coughing for over a week and advised me to go to the hospital to get my sputum checked. When the results came back doctors told me that I had Tuberculosis (TB). I didn’t know much about TB so they explained to me that it is an infectious disease that usually affects the lungs. I told them that my friend is an former-TB patient who has recovered well from TB and they told me that because it is an airborne disease, I might have been infected by my friend or someone with TB.

I was then sent to a clinic near my house where I started a 6 Months TB treatment. While a the  clinic I met one of the TB care volunteers from ACHAP, who now helps me to take my pills on time and visits my house often to check follow my progress. I feel lucky because the nurses at the clinic are very good to me and I am happy with the service from TB care programme.

I used to work for a local company here in Francistown but became very difficult for me to continue working when I got ill. The company gave me a sick leave until I got better that that is when I will resume work.  Two months into treatment I already feel good.

I recently spoke to my colleagues and friends about my experience and told them that if they have any of the common TB symptoms, they should immediately go to the hospital to get tested for TB.