She Fights TB and HIV Door-to-Door on this Tanzanian Island

October 25, 2018Community health workers like Nanzula link their neighbors to the essential primary health services they need.In 2003, Nanzula Jagaja ’s husband died and left her as the sole provider for their four children.“A few years after his death, a Lutheran church mission came here educating widows on HIV and tuberculosis,” she says. “Only then did I realize my husband had died from TB.”Today Nanzula is certified as a community home-based care provider on HIV and TB and goes house-to-house, making sure those in her village know about the risks and symptoms and linking them to formal health services. She hopes to prevent others from losing someone they love.Photos“I feel very happy being a community health worker,” Nanzula says. She travels this road in her village, going house-to-house to provide education on HIV and TB. Photo by Josh Estey for IntraHealth International.Nanzula ’s clients Godfrey (left) and Sikuwajibu. She’s proud that Godfrey, who’s HIV-positive, takes actions to protect his wife from acquiring HIV (she’s negative). Both are advocates for HIV testing. Photo by Josh Estey for IntraHealth International.This week Nanzula (above) got two new HIV clients —a young man and woman who are both 18 years old. Her clients call her when they have questions or need help. Photo by Josh Estey for IntraHealth International.Nanzula talks to as many people as she can. “Whenever I meet a group of people, " she says, " I tell them about HIV and T...
Source: IntraHealth International - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Source Type: news