By Anne Theresa Suresh Kumar | Project Leader
The first time Shanthi, the Field Officer at REACH, visited her patient Kumar to start him on treatment, she was dismayed with what she found. She found an extremely frail skeleton like man confined to his bed in a closed room spitting out sputum through the window. The room was very badly kept and none other than Kumar seemed to enter the room.
His wife and mother in law were cynical about him and his disease. They were of the opinion that he had to be confined to a closed room to ensure the health of the rest of the family members. Shanthi had a tough task ahead.
It took Shanthi several home visits and persistent counseling sessions with him and his family to change things. Kumar’s wife still complains but has partially accepted the fact that since Kumar is on treatment, he would not spread the disease. Her mother seems to be coming around.
Kumar is a happier man, he is on his fourth month of treatment and his weight has increased from 47 to 49 kilograms. He is no more confined behind closed doors.
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