| HOME | ABOUT SHEHAB | PROTFOLIO | GALLERIES | TEARSHEETS | LINK | CONTACT | FEEDBACK |
All Galleries
Portfolio  
 
Amrao Manush  
 
Maoist Army  
 
TB in Bangladesh: A Story of Unconsciousness  
 
Elderly people of Briddhashram  
 
Radiance of the Obscurity: The daily life of Jatra  
 
  TB in Bangladesh: A Story of Unconsciousness
 

    
   

“Give me an effective medicine or kill me …. Amar ar vallagena!” Lying in her non – paying sick bed in the National Institute of Diseases of Chest and Hospital, Aisha lost all her interest in life. The 25 years old MDR patient Aisha was ill for the last two years and has been detected as tuberculosis case a year ago. Due to unavailability of money and consciousness, she did not continue the treatment. During all this time she never knew that the treatment is free. After affected by TB, her husband left her. Now Aisha has hearing problem due to side effect of MDR medicine. She came to the tuberculosis hospital and got admitted on the 13th January 2004 after she falls seriously ill. Now her weight is 29 kg. Only her mother visits Aisha in the hospital very rarely. Her 10 years old girl is still continuing primary education with financial support from her grand parents. The nurses were amazed by the fact that I being an outsider have spent more than 5 hours in the MDR unit where most of the doctors and the nurses don’t even spent much time. Being a photojournalist, my observation reflects that most of the TB patients are isolated from the society, the family and even from the health care facilities. Abandoned by their husbands, the female TB patients once again look to their own parents for some support and comfort. These issues develop serious psychological disadvantages among the patients and as a result try not to disclose the fact that one is affected by TB. Like Aisha, most of the TB Patient in Bangladesh is not aware of TB and its treatment. Although a lot of awareness programs in Bangladesh are in place but the effectiveness of these programs are in serious question. These community outreach programs needs not only to develop awareness among TB patients but also to assist our community in accepting the TB patients and provide them proper treatment along with a sincere psychological support. The general response to TB prevention and control in Bangladesh is not so well. Unawareness and lack of knowledge about TB related issues persist to a larger extent in Bangladesh. The presence of the DOTS Center, hospitals and free treatment still cannot help the issue. Mismanagement in the government sector and large gaps in proper counseling to TB patient and suspected target group are some of the fact that needs restructuring. Bangladesh ranks 5th on the list of 22 highest burden TB countries in the world where approximately 300,000 people fall ill to Tuberculosis and 70,0000 die every year, 99 per 100,000 pop. (incidence) new smear-positive per year, 221 per 100,000 pop. (incidence) new TB cases (all forms) per year. It is learnt that 54 per cent of the affected people do not get any treatment at all. Several technical partners participate in TB control activities in Bangladesh, led by BRAC and The DFB. The CCM has made a successful application for funding from the GFATM. Financial support is also provided by the World Bank and other partners through general funding for the health sector. TV spot, poster, sticker, brochure is the main method of media coverage on issues of TB prevention and control in Bangladesh. But it is in a very low level. And the print media rarely covers the issue. Some times seminar and symposium attended by leaders of the country, teachers and health and other professionals were arranged without any participation form TB patients. NTP at this moment is trying to gear up the media coverage. Ideas of making promotional films, folk songs, and community dramas with an objective to increase massive awareness to the “target groups” are in place. Assumptions can be made from the NTP and the WHO statistics that the “Real” situation of TB treatment, prevention and control programmes is now going in a remarkable flow. But massive awareness buildup, socio-economic restructuring and monitoring activities among the target groups should also be taken into account in order for these activities to be fruitful.

Read more..


Mokter Ali 60, come to DOT Center Shyamoly, Dhaka for diagnosis TB. He was a farmer of Mohongonj, Maymanshing, and seek ill for last 12-14 years. He did not able to do any work for last 5-6 years. So now he and his family depend on the income of his maidservant wife and garments worker daughter. Now his serious illness is bound him to got treatment.



In the last day of TB treatment Shuli and her husband waiting for serial in dots center in Mirpur Dhaka.



Dr. AKM Mushfiqur Rahman Faruq, Officer in Charge, National TB Control Project, Shyamoly, Dhaka examined an EX-ray of a Suspected TBpatient in his hospital chamber.



Today is the last day of Shuli’s TB treatment. In the morning she and her husband come to the DOT Center and taking the last dose of medicine. Abul Hossain guard of Nagar shastha Kendro (Urban health Center) also work as a drugs distributor.



Slina 20, a house wife taking medicine in a DOT Center Shyamoly, Dhaka. He has bee ill for last 2 month. Her husband is a Rickshaw puller and she has a kid of 4 month. She started her treatment from 27.06.2005.



Beauty lying in her non – paying sick bed in the National Institute of Diseases of Chest and Hospital. She is crying for her pain. The 23 years old housewife suspected TB patient Beauty was ill from last one year and detected as tuberculosis case by the local private practitioner. After taking medicine for more than couple of month she feels batter and thinks that she is cured, than discontinued her treatment, and admitted in hospital one week ago. She is abounded by her husband who is a garments worker. Now her weight is 30 kg. Only her mother take care her at hospital.



Biva barai nurse of the National Institute of Diseases of Chest and Hospital is delivered the medicine to an attendant of a patient. Dhaka.



Joli give a look to the infinity in her non – paying sick bed in the National Institute of Diseases of Chest and Hospital. The 20 years old TB patient Joli was ill from last one year and detected as tuberculosis case three months ago. She started her Tb treatment on 06.06.2005 in BRAC Health Center, Mothertec, Dhaka but she did not continue the treatment. After illness her rickshaw puller husband left her. She came to the tuberculosis hospital and admits on 28th July 2004 after she fell seriously ill. Now her weight is 30kg. Only her mother take care her at hospital. Back of Joli Johirunnesa Begom is sitting her bed. Dhaka



Aisha looks through to the out side through the hospital window in the National Institute of Diseases of Chest and Hospital, which seems to her as a Jail. Aisha lost all her interest in life. The 25 years old MDR patient Aisha was ill from last two years and detected as tuberculosis case one year ago, but she did not continue the treatment. Because she had no money to buy medicine and did not know that the treatment is free. After illness her husband left her. Now Asha has hearing problem due to side effect of MDR medicine. She came to the tuberculosis hospital and admits on 13th January 2004 after she fell seriously ill. Now her weight is 29 kg. Only her mother visits Aisha in a long break at hospital. She has a 10 years girl chiled, who containing her primary education. Dhaka.



Shankori is preparing her vegetable for cooking in corner of her non – paying sick bed in the National Institute of Diseases of Chest and Hospital. The 22 years old MDR patient Shankori was ill from last three years and detected as tuberculosis case seven months ago, but she did not continue the treatment. Because she had no money to buy medicine and did not know that the treatment is free. After illness her husband left her. She came to the tuberculosis hospital and admits on 16th January 2004 after she fell seriously ill. Only her father visits Shankori in a long break at hospital. She comes from Morelgong, Bagerhut.


for more, goto GALLERIES