Grandpa David Keeps His Family TB-free

David stands tall and strong. As a grandfather, David cares for more than 25 children either directly or indirectly. He cannot count the amount of money he has to come up with for school fees every time the academic year starts—yet he pays close enough attention to realize when his little grandson Robert was unwell.

Robert had been coughing for several months, while staying with his Auntie Rose during school holidays. When David spoke with them on the phone, Robert was always coughing. Rose had the same cough. She took herbs and antibiotics, which would relieve the cough for a short time—then the cough would return.

David asked for Robert to be brought to him. When David saw how much weight Robert had lost, he rushed him to the Rwashamaire Health Center(IV), which is supported by the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) through the USAID RHITES-SW project and the CaPTB project by UNITAID. Robert tested positive for TB and was started right away on an anti-TB drug therapy. Robert’s recovery was speedy.

But that was not the end of the matter. The health center staff asked Grandpa David who else in the family was coughing and they made an appointment to visit the family home. They explained that Robert likely contracted the disease from someone living with him. During the home visit, the other children tested negative. Then David remembered Auntie Rose and her persistent cough and he called her home. She tested positive for TB and was immediately started on treatment. Robert is TB free, back in school and Auntie Rose is doing better.

Through the USAID RHITES-SW project, EGPAF is at the forefront of the battle against TB in Uganda. Only about half of pediatric TB cases in southwest Uganda were detected in 2018. This is why we are working with clinicians to become confident in diagnosing and treating TB in children effectively.