Rekha’s health has improved

Rekha (name changed as per recipient’s wishes) and her husband have eight children, most of whom are married and now have their own children, resulting in a very large joined family living together in one house.

Rekha is a tuberculosis patient undergoing treatment at AIC’s Health Outreach Program. As tuberculosis is an infectious disease, all in the house are at risk, and unfortunately, Rekha’s husband and teenage daughter have also been diagnosed with TB and are receiving treatment as well.

With so many people living in such close proximity, it is imperative that Rekha receives government-provided DOTS medication every day at the AIC Health Centre, lest the infection continue to spread among family members. There the AIC doctor directly observes the medicine administration and talks with Rekha regarding her health and treatment. Any additional medical tests (x-rays, blood tests) recommended by the doctor are also provided by AIC’s Health Outreach Program, so that Rekha’s recovery can be closely monitored.

Although Rekha is a very consistent, compliant patient and comes daily without fail, in the event that she does not come for her medication one day, an AIC health worker is on call to make a trip to her house to check in with her and ensure that she does not miss a single dose. As the demand for their roadside clothes business has been dwindling in recent years, Rekha and her husband only earn about Rs 3,000 per month ($65), which is hardly enough to feed the family and pay the rent, let alone allow much to be saved for their last two daughters’ weddings.

Thus, Rekha has also been taking advantage of the option to receive daily nutritional supplementation in the form of a mid-day meal and daily vitamins at the AIC Health Center. With all of this combined support, Rekha no longer worries that her children and grandchildren will contract TB from her, and is looking forward to having her full health back!

Thank you for giving good health back to Rekha!