Support 150 Tuberculosis Patients in Moldova

The simple act of sitting down to a bowl of hot soup meant much to Olga and her children, Artiom and Ana. They came to the Centre for Tuberculosis Patients to partake in Speranta Terrei’s Saturday lunch. Speranta Terrei started recently to serve a weekly lunch at its Centre to give sustenance to a few of the TB patients and homeless in our town, Balti.

Olga is a single mother of 5 children, the eldest an 11-year old disabled boy and the youngest a baby of 3 months. She was living in a public garden when Eugenia spotted her and noticed Olga was in a panic. Eugenia helps TB patients with social assistance applications at Speranta Terrei and invited the family to the Centre to discuss their situation and to try to find services for them. Galina, our intrepid homeless coordinator, took Olga for a TB diagnostic test. Eugenia assisted Olga with applications for temporary housing and social assistance. Thankfully, the TB test was negative and Olga is immensely relieved. She and the children have been in contact with people who had TB and Olga says “TB frightens me because I have seen its effects.” 

She says it is hard to express in words the warm feeling of being at a dining table with her children. After they left the Centre, Artiom and Ana asked her, “When are we going back there?” They were happy they could take a box of food with them for their siblings. The attached photos show Olga and Ana at the table and the family waving goodbye in front of the Centre. 

Your donations allow Speranta Terrei to reach those at risk of TB infection and to undertake preventive measures and prophylaxis treatment. In Moldova, as elsewhere, homelessness increases the risk of TB disease and the homeless are among the groups who should be screened for TB.

Many thanks for donating so that Speranta Terrei can fulfill the purpose of its Centre, a place where the vulnerable can find solace. A simple act carries a lot of meaning!