My name is Jan and I’m from the Philippines. I am a DOTS treatment coordinator here in our locale. My first exposure about tuberculosis was when we discussed it in school. Upon knowing how this looks and how it can infect, it made me afraid before to think that this one small microbe can kill people. I was also afraid to mingle with patients already diagnosed with the disease for fear that I will get infected too.
But these views changed when my boss invited me to attend a DOTS provider training. I just agreed without knowing what will be the seminar/workshop about. I just know that I will be able to go to a very nice place and attend seminar. But after sitting there for at least 5 minutes my eyes were opened and my mind went wild. So, this is all about tuberculosis, I told myself. And the fears came again. Questions started forming inside me, hesitations, you can say at least panicky but the workshop was very informative and it cleared the concerns that I have in mind. I came to know a lot about tuberculosis and learned how to deal with it and help people. It was an eye opening experience. From then and there I told myself that I will read further to educated me and my future patients and that was what I did for a few months. Read, research, understand, share, help.
Came the very first patient and I was so happy and eager. I explained to him about the disease process, symptoms, drugs that he need to take, possible side effects, almost everything concerning patient care. I also made it a point to have an open line of communication so that any problem that may arise. I felt it important to do so, so that the patient/client would not hesitate to tell me how he feels and since SMS is so popular in our country it was one tool that I use often. I was so happy when he finished the 6-month course.
Being a TB treatment coordinator made me realize that every person counts in TB treatment. During my tenure here, I came to realize that many people have tuberculosis, not only here in the Philippines but in the entire world and many are still left undetected. Some cannot even be reached by these medicines that people are dying because of this curable disease. Some patients do not want to be treated even after explaining to them the importance of treatment.
Sometimes when a patient does not want to continue treatment or fails the course, I want to cry or shout or shake their heads until they realize what they are doing to themselves. I try hard to explain what might happen if they fail to finish the course even showing them slides/pictures of the possible things that might happen; still there are few people who will still opt to stop treatment. But these few encounters are very rare but very trying.
If there are failures of course there are triumphs and they come sweetly. It is so fulfilling to see the patients finish their treatment regimens. The way they evolve from being sick to becoming cured, from a negative disposition to a more positive disposition, from being sad to becoming happy. They usually come ashamed, fearful, stigmatized, full of questions but after being treated or even during treatment these change. They become what we call advocates. They became our partners in the community.
Being a coordinator for the past 2-1/2 years taught me things about people especially those who need care and attention. I came to realize so many things. Like, I became more aware of TB management, educating myself more about TB so that I can share information to patients, learning how to reach out to patients, learning how to build bridges between patients, care providers, government, physicians, and other people important in combating tuberculosis.
It is still quite a long road before we can truly combat tuberculosis but the little steps that each of us takes greatly helps. Small contributions make a lot when pooled. I am grateful to our administrator for taking the full stride to start our DOTS project here. I am hoping that one day I might also mirror his action and help more people know more about tuberculosis and bring the cure to people who need it.
Isn’t it nice to dream for a TB-free earth?
