India: How Deepak Shegar overcame DR-TB to reclaim his dreams

Mumbai, India- “When I recover, I want to play cricket,” says Deepak Shegar, a 23-year-old whose aspirations extend far beyond his battle with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB). With dreams of a career in the garment industry, a love for cricket, and a desire for a brand-new bike, Deepak’s journey to pursue his goals has been long … Read more

Deepak Shegar: Battling DR-TB with resilience and dreams

“When I recover, I want to play cricket,” says Deepak Shegar, a 23-year-old whose aspirations extend far beyond his battle with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB). With dreams of a career in the garment industry, a love for cricket, and a desire for a brand-new bike, Deepak’s journey to pursue his goals has been long and challenging. … Read more

Namrata’s journey: triumph over drug-resistant Tuberculosis

Mumbai, India- Namrata’s story is a testament to the timeless principle that consistency is crucial. Her disciplined approach to maintaining a routine, embracing a healthy lifestyle, and adhering to medication regimens demonstrates that even formidable conditions like drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) can be overcome. In 2016, Namrata was employed at a daycare in an international school … Read more

Namrata’s Journey: Triumph Over Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis

Namrata’s story is a testament to the timeless principle that consistency is crucial. Her disciplined approach to maintaining a routine, embracing a healthy lifestyle, and adhering to medication regimens demonstrates that even conditions like drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) can be overcome. In 2016, Namrata was employed at a daycare in an international school in Chembur, Mumbai. … Read more

Fighting TB with Hope: Stories of Stigma and Strength from Three Generations in Mumbai, India

From a seven-year-old child to a mother of two children, drug-resistant tuberculosis is rampant among all age groups. Globally, TB is the leading killer among infectious diseases. One-third of these deaths occurred in India. Patients either do not receive timely, accurate diagnoses or are unable to access the new drug regimen of Bedaquiline and Delamanid. … Read more

COVID-19 in India: Fighting misinformation on the frontlines

By Santosh Choure, Health Promotion Manager, Mumbai Mumbai is still seeing more than 3,000 new cases of COVID-19 every day. People are scared and many of them don’t prefer to get tested even though they have symptoms, as they’re afraid of being quarantined or hospitalized and separated from their family members. MSF is working in … Read more

COVID-19 in India: “The situation is terrible, but the commitment of the staff is extraordinary

By Mabel Morales, MSF Medical Coordinator The situation in India and in Mumbai is very bad and critical. We’re providing medical support to one of the COVID-19 treatment centres here in Mumbai with 1,000 beds. There are many, many cases and the last week of April has seen a real increase. The health workers are … Read more

COVID-19 in India: “We’re just not able to find enough nurses”

By Dilip Bhaskaran, Project Coordinator, Mumbai COVID-19 project We have been collaborating with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) to co-manage dedicated Jumbo COVID-19 Care Centre in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). MCGM is doing a great job and we started this collaboration during the first wave providing patient care. Now, during the second wave, … Read more

COVID-19 in India: Tackling tuberculosis in the middle of coronavirus pandemic

By Aparna Iyer, Project Medical Referent, MSF Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Project in Mumbai MSF’s drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) and HIV project is located in the M-East Ward, one of the TB high-burden areas in Mumbai. During the second wave, there was a high number of COVID-19 cases being reported, about 6,000-7,000 cases a day which forced authorities … Read more

COVID-19 in India: “It’s changed me as a person and as a doctor”

By Dr Gautam Harigovind, Medical Activity Manager, COVID-19 project, Mumbai Picture a thousand-bed hospital. There are 28 wards, as well as the emergency, casualty and triage areas. It’s a makeshift hospital in a huge metal tent. Walking into it the first time was a surreal experience; I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s like walking … Read more