As World Tuberculosis (TB) Awareness Month shines the light on the disease, Masesi Ndlovu’s journey highlights the destructive consequences of smoking and poor living conditions.
Ndlovu’s story is a tragic reminder of the relentless grip of TB.
She was diagnosed in 2023 and underwent treatment, only to relapse in January due to her smoking and dire living conditions.
“The diagnosis was a shock because I thought it was just a cough from a flu. I was determined to overcome it by taking my medication to treat the disease and even stopped smoking cigarettes. I completed the treatment in November 2023, but I went back to smoking. I knew it was wrong, but I just continued to do it,” Ndlovu said.
In January, her TB symptoms worsened and she could not breathe properly. She said some of her symptoms included hot flushes, weakness, nausea and a painful cough.
“I was admitted to Themba Hospital in KaBokweni and then transferred to Bongani TB Specialised Hospital near Hazyview for further treatment.”
ALSO READ: Mpumalanga MECs for health and public works pay oversight visits to new facilities
She is currently still hospitalised. “I am getting better day by day, but I see what the future holds for me. I don’t know when I would be discharged as the doctors are still evaluating my health. I have quit smoking and will pursue a healthy lifestyle as soon as I get discharged, because the TB will eventually kill me if I don’t take good care of myself,” she said.
Ndlovu said her living arrangement in Mshadza Trust also made the TB worse.
“I shared a room with my brother. The cramped and poorly ventilated space created an ideal breeding ground for the TB bacteria.”
ALSO READ: Gender-based violence and femicide council launched in Mpumalanga
She said her relapse serves as a warning to the community about the dangers of smoking and the importance of a clean living space in preventing TB.
According to the World Health Organisation, TB continues to be the world’s leading infectious killer. With smoking being a high risk factor in South Africa, TB still remains the big public health concern, with thousands of cases reported every year. The organisation will commemorate World TB Day on March 24 to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of the disease and to step up efforts to end the global TB pandemic.
-
-
-
-
