In South Tangerang city, 36-year-old Fitri juggles life as a freelance worker, wife and mother of four children, while caring for her husband, Anggun, who is undergoing treatment for tuberculosis (TB).
When over-the-counter medicine failed to relieve Anggun’s respiratory symptoms, Fitri convinced him to visit the local primary health care centre (puskesmas). There, Anggun was diagnosed with TB, sending Fitri’s mind racing. "I was worried about myself and my children catching it," she recalls.
Fortunately, Fitri quickly learned that she and her children could access TB preventive treatment (TPT), a crucial measure for protecting both individuals and the wider community from the disease.
Since 2012, Indonesia has implemented a national TPT programme, which initially targeted people living with HIV. However, in alignment with WHO guidance, the programme has since expanded to include all household contacts of bacteriologically confirmed TB patients, like Fitri and her children.
As the primary caregiver, Fitri ensures Anggun takes his medication, while also following a preventive drug regimen for the rest of the family, with ongoing support from TB programme and puskesmas staff.
Assignment for WHO Indonesia
https://www.who.int/indonesia/news/photos/detail/in-it-together--battling-tb-as-a-caregiver