Today, I spent time learning more about how India is working to fight tuberculosis (TB), a disease that affects the lungs and can make people very sick. TB is a big problem here because many people live in crowded places, which makes it easier for the disease to spread. My research focuses on a program called Ni-Kshay Mitra, which means "Friend of TB Patients." It’s a special program where people and organizations work together to support those who are sick, not just with medicine but also with food and other things they need to stay healthy.
One part of my research is understanding how this program helps people stick to their treatments. TB takes a long time to cure, and some people stop taking their medicine too early, which makes the disease harder to treat. I’ve been meeting with health workers and learning about how they visit patients to make sure they’re doing okay. I also look at how the government and other groups provide extra help, like nutrition kits, to keep patients strong while they heal. Seeing how everyone works together, from local communities to big organizations like USAID (the United States' Agency for International Development), has been amazing.
This work isn’t always easy, though.
