Divya is a slightly-built 19-year old, living with her mother and sister in Bangalore. She once dreamed of being a doctor, but her father’s death three years ago put an end to her education and her dream. She collected plastic for recycling for a short while to earn money. Her mother, Subbamma, worked as domestic help and her older sister, Anu, 20, worked in a garment factory. Last year, Divya developed tuberculosis (TB), an infectious disease which predominantly infects the lungs and sometimes other organs too. TB, if left untreated or incorrectly treated can prove to have serious health consequences, sometimes even leading to death. Subbamma and Anu too were subsequently infected by TB. Anu had to leave her job to recover and take care of Divya. Their mother, the sole earning member, continued to work while taking her medication.

Earlier this year, Divya started to cough again. This time, the TB had spread from her lungs to her abdomen. Fluid started to build up around her lungs, making it difficult for her to breathe, while the pain in her abdomen left her vomiting and unable to eat. As Divya grew weaker, Subbamma and Anu took her from hospital to hospital to get the right care, and she was finally admitted at KC General Hospital, Bangalore. Divya was suffering from severe anaemia, and the disease had weakened her pancreas, her liver and her heart. The fluid in her lungs left her breathing in shallow gasps, afraid of what was happening to her, and unable to whisper more than a few words. Divya has been in the hospital since early June. She is feeling a little better each day, and has begun to smile, almost hesitantly, when asked how she is. However, the road to recovery is long, and will involve several months of medication and good nutrition before she has the strength to do more than walk a few steps.

Divya’s mother and sister could not leave her side at the hospital, and Subbamma lost her job. This family of TB patients now has no income, and no family to support them through this time. Divya needs her family’s care and support for the next few months, but they cannot do it alone.  Your contribution will aid all three of them as they recover from TB, which has disrupted their lives and livelihoods. 

Divya is receiving treatment free of cost under the provisions of the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program, which provides free diagnosis, treatment and medication to all TB patients. The money raised for Divya will cover transportation costs to the hospital, the cost of nutritious food to aid the family’s recovery, and help in their rehabilitation as they recover and find employment.
 
It will help them through the six months of Divya’s treatment, and the concluding months of that of Subbamma and Anu, so that they can move forward and put TB behind them.

Any amount raised above the mentioned amount will be used to support other needy TB patients.

KHPT, a not-for-profit organisation has taken this intiative to support needy TB patients to ensure better treatment outcomes and speedy return to normal life.