Nafisa, mother of Hareem and Ahmad | Children with DR-TB treated at MSF clinic, Gujranwala, Pakistan
Hareem (5) and Ahmad (4) live with their family in Khokharki, Gujranwala. Their drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) diagnosis came after a relative staying in their home was receiving TB treatment at the MSF-supported Programmatic Management of Drug-Resistant TB (PMDT) site at Gujranwala Teaching Hospital. As part of contact tracing, the MSF team visited the household to screen family members. Under the TACTiC initiative, the children were called to the MSF facility for further screening, where both Hareem and Ahmad were diagnosed with DR-TB. They are now receiving treatment at the clinic.
“I would just say to other mothers: if your child is having any health problems, please take them to a proper hospital where doctors can do the right tests. Don’t rely on medicines given without proper check-ups. The right treatment really helps children,” said Nafisa.
Before the diagnosis, Hareem and Ahmad were often unwell. They had poor appetite, abdominal pain, irritability, and were becoming weak. Their mother had taken them to a nearby clinic where they were given medicines without proper tests, but their condition did not improve. At the MSF clinic, detailed examinations confirmed the diagnosis of DR-TB, and both children were enrolled in a nine-month treatment program.
Although giving medicines was difficult at first, their mother is already seeing improvement. The children are eating better, becoming more active, and continuing their treatment with hope for a healthy future.
