Agony of a mother with baby in the throes of TB

Ephraim began to cough at 18 months old. Later his feet also started to swell. His mother, Theresa, took him to a health centre where he underwent chest X-ray. The health attendants did not find any sign of Tuberculosis (TB) and sent him home with drugs that could only cure common cold. However, when he did not get better, his mother was referred to Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba Lagos for comprehensive diagnosis. This time, Ephraim’s X-ray indicated that he had TB. Since there was no bed space at NIMR, he began treatment in one of the government hospitals in Badagry, Lagos. He stayed there for two months before being transferred to a facility close to their residence. Despite completing six months of treatment, his condition did not improve. Worried, his mother went back to NIMR where Ephraim was diagnosed with MDR-TB after doctors tested a sputum sample. He began treatment, which included a combination of daily injections and pills. For six months, T