Support 150 Tuberculosis Patients in Moldova

Petru is far from Dancu village, but he is not far from the thoughts of his moderator (treatment supporter), Iulia. In an earlier Global Giving report, Speranta Terrei featured Petru and Iulia from Dancu, on the edge of Moldova’s western border with Romania. At the time, Iulia was taking anti-TB drugs to Petru so that he could complete treatment for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Despite her vigilance, Petru interrupted the ambulatory treatment and is back in hospital. On a recent cold February day, Iulia along with Speranta Terrei’s psychologist, Valeri, made the long trek to Vorniceni MDR-TB Hospital to visit Petru. Vorniceni specializes in treatment of MDR-TB, which requires a longer and more toxic drug regimen than drug-susceptible TB. 

When Petru realized Iulia was in the visitors area of Vorniceni hospital, he said “Oh, my fairy Godmother is here, the one who tried to save me from this terrible disease.” Iulia visits only infrequently because of the expense and time to ride two buses to travel the 80 kilometers between Dancu and Vorniceni. Her concern for Petru is apparent. She had TB as a child and she continues to counsel him to complete his treatment regimen. 

As with many of Speranta Terrei’s TB patients, alcohol and tobacco are large obstacles between Petru’s illness and recovery. He says he has tried to stop, but slips back into old habits when he is with friends. On the day of the hospital visit, Petru told Iulia he wants to be cured and he has gained weight since returning to hospital in November. His hearing and sight are still weak and he needs help walking down steps. The attached photos show Iulia and Valeri helping Petru down the stairs at Vorniceni hospital and Iulia dispensing her reassuring words. 

Iulia has not given up on Petru. She asks rhetorically, “If I do not help him, who will?” She explained again to Petru how important it was for him to be cured and return to Dancu. In the attached photo, while bidding farewell and shaking hands, Iulia told Petru she will be looking for him soon in Dancu!

Thanks to our donors, Speranta Terrei and our moderators can look for our TB patients to come home cured.