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Getting patients back to work
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Listen to the Interview
in English
(Windows Media - 1.5 MB) |
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When his employers learned that Rodante had tested positive for TB, they promptly sacked him. “ I believe I got TB because I was overworked, driving 14 hours a day, seven days a week, without rest…,” narrates the 49 year old father of five. After selling all the cattle and furniture, he gave his family the money and moved to another town, weak and hopeless, to await a lonely death. Fortunately, he was one of 9000 TB patients encouraged by information campaigns and identified by community volunteers, to seek free treatment at a health facility.
"when I learned that I was sick, I lost hope and thought I was going to die soon. When I told my employers, they ordered me to stop working immediately..."
Groups of community members in the Philippines are informing the public about symptoms of the disease. “We are also encouraging employers to take in people cured of TB, by educating them and by lobbying through politicians, “says Lorelina Viana, a provincial coordinator of this programme implemented by the Tropical Disease and World Vision foundations, and financed by the Global Fund in support of the Government of Philippines. Now cured, Rodante smiles, relishing his future prospects: “I am now certain that I will find another job. I don’t want to go back to the one I had before because it’s far away. I will also volunteer to reach other patients.” Listen to his story.
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