Free of TB Eliminates Family’s Crisis

There are numerous migrants employed in the plantation zones in Kawthaung Township, Tanintharyi Region, Myanmar. Among them is Maung Win, who is of Karen ethnicity and originally lived in Myan Aung Township, Ayeyarwady Region.

Approximately seven years ago, he and his family migrated to the rubber plantation zone situated at the 7-mile village in Kawthaung.

After three years of working in the plantation zone, Maung Win began experiencing symptoms such as cough, low-grade fever and back pain. He initially went to a nearby general practices clinic, and his symptoms subsided. However, the relief was just temporary. After two years, his deteriorating health prevented him from walking properly. Multiple visits to the clinic posed financial difficulties for Maung Win.

These financial constraints forced him to withdraw his children from school, and while they were also unwell, they could not afford medical attention. This eventually led Maung Win to depression and even a suicide attempt.

Assistance came when he screened for tuberculosis (TB) at the National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP) clinic, supported by the IOM's Global Fund Tuberculosis Elimination Among Migrants (TEAM2) 3-year regional project and aided by dedicated volunteers from the American Refugee Committee (ARC). The diagnosis revealed pulmonary TB and Pott’s spine.

Following the diagnosis, ARC volunteers conducted thorough contact tracing for his family members and referred them for TB screening. The screening revealed pulmonary TB among his family. With the appropriate treatment and support from the Global Fund TEAM2 project, Maung Win's family is eventually free from TB.

Muang Win can now walk without difficulty, and his once stressed and crisis-ridden family is filled with smiles and relief. Maung Win advocates for proactive TB screening, especially for those exhibiting symptoms such as chronic cough, low-grade fever, back pain and blood-stained sputum.

He expresses heartfelt gratitude for the invaluable support received from IOM's Global Fund TEAM2 project.

As IOM's partner and a sub-recipient of IOM's Global Fund TEAM2, ARC has worked under the TEAM2 regional project since 2022, contributing to reducing the burden of TB in the Greater Mekong Subregion. For more information about IOM and ARC's TB initiatives, visit https://roasiapacific.iom.int/team2.