Tuberculosis in Myanmar: Saving Myint Oo

On World Tuberculosis Day 2013, Sunday 24th March, we want to share Aung Myint Oo's journey with tuberculosis (TB) and how Merlin is helping banish TB from the world.

Aung Myint Oo lives in Eastern Khone Thar village in Kalay township, Myanmar. At the age of 26, he supports a family of seven with farming and other manual work.

'Six months ago, I started to cough continuously and had a slight fever, on and off. To begin with I used some traditional home remedies but they didn't work and I felt worse every day. I lost my appetite and over the course of a month I lost a lot of weight. I felt exhausted. I was too weak and tired to work.

'I didn't know what was happening to me, or what to do to end my suffering and feel well again.

'Fortunately, a Merlin team arrived in our village to conduct a health education session. From the session I learnt about the signs and symptoms of tuberculosis, along with how it can be transmitted, prevented and treated. The session was very worthwhile for me.

'After the session, I talked to a Merlin staff and our village health worker, U Tin Myint, who listened to my story and suggested I get a sputum examination for acid-fast bacillus to find out if I had TB. I was referred to a national TB control program called the NTP campaign at Kalay Hospital.

'When my TB was confirmed, I felt shocked. But our village volunteer health worker encouraged me not to be so worried, and explained the treatment I would have. He supported me from then until my treatment course was completed.'

'He would drop by my house on a daily basis to check on me and ensure I was taking my drugs at the right times. The rest of my family were also tested for TB but thankfully their results were fine. The village health volunteer told me how to make sure I didn't pass the disease on to them.

'I took my drugs without fail and I felt better every day. After 2 months I had recovered. I could eat as normal and my breathlessness left me. I am now healthy again.

'When my 5th and 6th month's tests came back negative, I was cured of TB. I'm healthy and happy again. I and my family are so thankful to our volunteer health worker, U Tin Myint, for Merlin's referral support and health education, and for free TB drugs.'

TB is a curable disease but it's an epidemic in much of the world. It causes the deaths of nearly one-and-a-half million people each year. Merlin is committed to immunising people and training health workers to treat this terrible disease. We are helping to save lives but we can only continue to carry out our vital work with your help. Please donate today, and help people like Aung Myint Oo live a healthy life.