Saikal’s Story

The full version of this story was originally published on kncvtbc.org

Saikal is a mother of three living in Kyrgyzstan. She was diagnosed with highly drug-resistant TB and began treatment with the BPaL regimen through the LIFT-TB program in August 2021.

Saikal is scheduled to complete treatment in February and is feeling healthy and hopeful. Saikal says she’s “telling others here that it’s worth starting these new drugs. They always envy that I take considerably fewer drugs than they do.”

“…since the beginning of the treatment I’ve been feeling like I’m healing fast.”

Saikal had poor experiences with traditional DR-TB medicines, beginning treatment but stopping after just three months, citing the large numbers of pills, dizziness, and nausea. Saikal resorted to unconventional medicine but her symptoms continued to worsen. By the time she was admitted to the specialized TB hospital in Kara-Balta, she couldn’t go upstairs without losing her breath.

Saikal quickly saw her health improve when she began the new therapy. Early in her treatment, she said, “maybe it’s psychological or medicine but since the beginning of the treatment I’ve been feeling like I’m healing fast.”