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Tanzania: Feature StoriesTanzania Overview | Current Projects | Publications | Feature Stories
Home-Based Care in Ilala
Siasa, saved from tuberculosis, becomes a Pathfinder-trained health worker in his community
Siasa has now recovered from his bout with TB and is volunteering as a community health worker |
Dar es Salaam: Siasa is a young man of 23 years. Two years ago, he was unable to work due to a lingering illness. He was living with his father, who worked as a in Ilala, a municipality of Dar es Salaam. Due to the poverty that exists among many families in Tanzania, life for Siasa and his father was very tough, and sometimes they had to sleep without anything to eat.
Here Siasa tells his story:
“In early 2004, I felt sick. As days went on, my health deteriorated rapidly to a worse condition and my father did not have enough money to take me to the hospital. One day, my father decided to move away from the house and I was left alone with no care, treatment or food to eat. When neighbors became aware of what happened, they decided to report to the Street Leader. Fortunately, the Street Leader was aware of the Tutunzane Community Home-Based Care (CHBC) project, and he contacted two community health workers (CHWs), Ms. Masha and Sr. Ungani, from Gerezani Health Center. They referred me to Mnazi Mmoja Hospital for check up and treatment.”
Siasa continues: “I was diagnosed to be suffering from TB and I immediately started treatment. The community health workers were coming to see me almost every day, bringing food, washing my clothes and leaving me with few coins for buying fruits. Apart from that, they were counseling me, something that was a relief emotionally and psychologically.”
During the time he was sick, Siasa went for an HIV test, and the results showed that he was HIV negative. After he recovered fully from his bout with TB, Siasa decided to volunteer and work as a CHW in Gerezani Ward. He says, “I want all patients to be cared (for) the way I was cared (for) by my colleague CHWs. I believe without CHBC services, I would have been dead by now. I really thank all who helped me, as they have prolonged my life and now I am among the important people in the community with ability to help others who are sick.”
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