Rohit is recovering well

Thank you for providing comprehensive treatment to Rohit to enable him to get cured of tuberculosis.

Five year old Rohit and his twin brother are the youngest of the five children in their family. His mother begs on the streets to earn enough to feed her family, but often her children go hungry.  His mother’s income also goes toward supporting an orphaned cousin of Rohit’s as well as her elderly in-laws who live with the family. Rohit’s family has been struck by one tragedy after another this fall.  Shortly after Rohit’s father died of liver failure related to alcoholism several months ago, Rohit was diagnosed with tuberculous meningitis, an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spiral cord. He spent a week in the hospital before being discharged.  He continues to receive outpatient care at the AIC Health and Community Outreach Centre.  Rohit will need to have daily injections for six months, which are administered by the doctor at the AIC Health and Community Outreach Centre, before his infection can be considered treated.  His care at the AIC Centre also includes coverage of any supplementary testing or medications not provided for free under the government’s TB control program, as well as nutritional supplementation, which is important for Rohit because of his family’s extreme poverty.  Finally, Rohit’s care is monitored by the AIC doctor and a community health worker, who personally visits his home to ensure that he doesn’t miss a single dose of his medication.  This will make a big difference for Rohit’s prognosis, as his mother is an alcoholic and is not always attentive to her children’s needs. Now that he has started treatment, Rohit’s headaches and vomiting have subsided, and he has even been able to start nursery school again. The doctors are confident that, with continued daily treatment, Rohit will make a full recovery.