Lighting Up the Spirit toward Recovery

KOMPAS/FABIO MARIA LOPES COSTA

Implementation of the TB Gedor program at the homes of residents in Kampung Netar,   Sentani Timur  District,  Jayapura Regency, Papua, on Thursday (19/3/2020). This program is from the Kampung Harapan Community Health Center in Sentani Timur District to detect residents suspected of suffering from tuberculosis and socializing how to prevent infectious diseases.

Having tuberculosis is not the end of the world. People living with the disease in East Sentani district, Jayapura regency, Papua, keep their chins up while taking medication for years to recover.On Wednesday morning (18/3/2020), a passenger hopped off a motorcycle taxi in front of the Kampung Harapan community health center (Puskesmas) in East Sentani district. The passenger was Yonece Wangguay, a 45-year-old mother of four who had drug-resistant tuberculosis. She then walked to a special room for people with the disease at the Puskesmas.

Ten minutes later, Puskesmas head Hanover Budianto came by, administered intravenous medicine and gave her drugs. Yonece said she was not tired of taking drugs for more than a year as she felt optimistic that she would recover, despite the TB bacteria that attacked her being particularly drug resistant.