"I fell ill with tuberculosis not once, but twice. At some point, I lost all hope," says Mrinmoy.
Mrinmoy Hazra was first diagnosed with the disease, which is responsible for 10% of all deaths in India, in 2015. At the time, he was working as a press photographer and earning around 10,000 rupees (CHF 123) a month. However, after being diagnosed with tuberculosis, his health deteriorated and he had to give up his job. Mrinmoy came to Calcutta Rescue in 2015 when he could no longer afford the medication.
The team at Calcutta Rescue's tuberculosis clinic took care of him and he was cured the following year. But his joy did not last long, as the symptoms returned in 2017. This time the tuberculosis was more dangerous, as the bacilli had become resistant to the usual medication. "I was inconsolable. I thought I was cured. But just one year later, I came down with the same disease again," said Mrinmoy.
Mrinmoy lives with his wife and two children. They were all dependent on him. "My children were in school and I couldn't afford to pay for their education." As the family received no financial support from anyone, Mrinmoy's wife started giving private lessons to children from the neighborhood to earn a small income.
It was a long road, but thanks to treatment with drugs that are effective against resistant tuberculosis bacteria and the motivation and advice of Calcutte Rescue staff, Mrinmoy was completely cured at the end of last year.
"I would like to thank the staff at Calcutta Rescue for always standing by my side during these turbulent years. They gave me mental strength and helped me to take my medication correctly and consistently. Thanks to them, I am now cured. Now I want to go back to work and take care of my family."