Note: this story is a work of fiction, and no character information is at all related to real persons.

Peter is a 30-year-old male living in Elsies River in Cape Town. He enjoys spending time with his friends over weekends. Peter works in Epping at a factory as a storeman. For the past two weeks he has been experienced a bout of insistent coughing, loss of appetite and night sweats. Peter is very conscientious about his health and as in the past, he requested to see the nurse at work, who referred him to his local clinic to have a TB test.

At the clinic he was assisted by a one of our Drug Resistant Counsellors who screened him for TB symptoms of which he has more than one. Peter was given two small jars in which he had to give a sputum specimen. Peter was informed by the counsellor that both jars will be sent to the laboratory for testing and that he need to return to the clinic within the next two days to receive his results. True to character, two days later Peter returned and was diagnosed with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. Our Drug-Resistant counsellor provided much needed counselling and had been with Peter on his treatment journey for the full 9 months. Peter has completed his TB journey and is in good health and continue to enjoy watch soccer and rugby with his friends.

The TB bacteria is airborne and anyone can contract it. Should you wish to make use of our services, be it education or testing, please contact us via email on hast@touchingnations.org or call us at 021 224 0983 during office hours.