It takes a village to cure a patient with TB(Tuberculosis)…
In one of the very first visits to village Matringa in September 2021, a village on the top of Putka-Devpahari mountains approx 75 km away from Ambikapur town, we met with a problem of how access to healthcare is as important as health itself. As our discussions with the Sarpanch of the village went on, he introduced us to diverse beautiful village of Matringa. He showed us the solar panels put up to provide water to village; despite the technical efforts the traditional pajhara system_ where water from the mountain top is collected & distributed to the village with mere siphoning action- no electricity or power required. Matringa a majorly Mnajhwaar village but had Pahadi Korwa population residing in the outskirts and even at the mountain tops of the village. The village’s main source of income was majduri_ people doing paid labour in the farms owned by the people from the beter of villages; they would be paid with 30% food grown by them & some amount per day for the day-wise jobs. Having restricted job opportunities, we could see hardly any youth around, as most of them would migrate to distant cities for earning.
As our discussion the shifted to understand the common health problems faced by the community when the Sarpanch introduced us our 60 yrs. old young Mrs. Ratiyaso (name changed). She looked very sick and had been losing a lot of weight since last 3 months. She was not getting better with the local Baigai-Guniya treatments.
When we visited her, she was alone, lying in the dark corner of her home, surrounded by flies. Initially it took time for my eye to even realise the human presence around the house. Unable to get up at all she was doing all her daily chores right on the bed. She looked very frail lady in her 30s maximum with only bony skeleton visible. Just by looking at her, we realised its extensive pulmonary TB. She was getting usual concoction of antibiotics from nearby PHC and the quack as well. She needed admission badly; so advised her to come to Biniya so that we could arrange her referral and further admission in the TB ward. After a lot of discussion, her family members agreed to get her to Biniya as the place would be better accessible and friendly_ village like for them.
When we visited her, she was alone, lying in the dark corner of her home, surrounded by flies. Initially it took time for my eye to even realise the human presence around the house. Unable to get up at all she was doing all her daily chores right on the bed. She looked very frail lady in her 30s maximum with only bony skeleton visible. Just by looking at her, we realised its extensive pulmonary TB. She was getting usual concoction of antibiotics from nearby PHC and the quack as well. She needed admission badly; so advised her to come to Biniya so that we could arrange her referral and further admission in the TB ward. After a lot of discussion, her family members agreed to get her to Biniya as the place would be better accessible and friendly_ village like for them.
Within 1 month, her family arranged approx. 3000 rupees to get her to Biniya by a private vehicle as 108 ambulance was not ready to travel so long to Matringa. We weighed her she was merely 23 kgs. Her family was all the way ready to stay in the village in the clinic; but she was very sick to remain without monitoring. We arranged her to get admitted in TB ward in District Hospital, Ambikapur. Reluctantly she got admitted for 3 days. But, she was just not happy with her stay here in Hospital, as her family could not get adequate rice to eat and she was discontent with her relationship with the hospital staff. After for maximum 3 days, the family & herself sneaked out without letting us know. We tried to look for them, contacting them through various means, through Sarpanch, mitanins, & through visits to village, but Ratiyaso bai’s family kept distances from us constantly.
In April 2022, while we were scouting for the supervisor for the Udaypur block we happened to visit Matringa again. While discussing with Sarpanch-ji, I asked reluctantly with fear about Ratiyaso bai expecting bad news. But he informed us happily that she is back to action, going in fields again, taking care of his family. I went to see her and was shocked to see healthy, happy and vibrant Ratiyaso bai weighing 45 kg.
When enquired about all the period that passed, she told her story_ When she sneaked out of the hospital and reached home again; The mitanin-Didi of nearby village (Sitkalo) made it a point to give her ATT medicines everyday. MItanin arranged funds from VHSNC to provide her some money for the food required. Mitanin even connected to PHC to provide her last month sputum samples. Sarpanch-ji and Panchs of the villages spared some rations form their monthly to keep the family fed. Villagers helped the family to be back on the feet by providing rations, food and basic amenities. I knew I or We Sangwari had no contribution from our side for her recovery, despite the same, I asked Ratiyaso bai what all could I have done to smoothen the process of her recovery, She said “DIdi, you came here all the way in this corner of the village, saw us, our condition and took me to a better place with hope to be alright. That’s all I needed, a hope”.
Dr. Neha Kale, Family Physician, Sangwari