MSF South Asia 98d ago

“I didn’t know I had TB,” Pooja recalls. At first, she was treated for what she believed was double pneumonia. It was only after further tests at the hospital that she learned she had MDR‑TB. Facing a two‑year treatment regimen with overwhelming monthly costs, severe side effects, and little initial improvement, she felt deeply discouraged. Her medication side effects often went unaddressed, and at times she struggled even to take the medication properly. Still, Pooja remained determined to stay on treatment—holding on to the hope that completing it was her only path to recovery. Now a TB survivor, Pooja is using her experience to show others that TB treatment can work. She advocates for patients in her community, shares accurate information about available treatment regimens, and offers something just as vital: hope.