DIVYA SHARMA
Divya Sharma is a three-time TB survivor who was diagnosed with multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) during the 2020 lockdown, after previously completing treatment for drug-sensitive TB in 2009 and 2010. She underwent 18 months of treatment while caring for her two young children, navigating both the physical side effects of the medicines and the limited understanding within her community and family about the seriousness of MDR-TB.
The lockdown period also placed significant financial strain on her family, affecting their livelihood and access to proper nutrition during treatment. With consistent counselling support, Divya regained her emotional strength and confidence to complete her journey to recovery.
Today, she is a founding member of the TB Survivors Collective and aspires to become a motivational speaker, using her lived experience to raise awareness about MDR-TB and support others facing similar challenges. She believes that overcoming TB requires not only medicines, but also understanding, awareness, and compassionate support
SONU CHAUHAN
Sonu Chauhan is an multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) survivor whose journey with tuberculosis began in 2013. After initially receiving treatment in the private sector without significant improvement, he was diagnosed with MDR-TB. He later transitioned to treatment in the public health system, where treatment path to recovery was challenging. Despite these difficulties, Sonu remained disciplined and determined.
Throughout his treatment, his sister, family, and a close friend stood by him, offering unwavering support and strength.
In 2017, Sonu successfully completed his treatment. His recovery marked not only the end of a long health battle but also the beginning of a new purpose. Inspired by his own experience, he chose to work in the same field where he once received care. For the past seven years, he has been supporting and motivating TB patients, encouraging them to remain hopeful and adhere to their treatment.
Today, as a member of a Community-Based Organization (CBO), Sonu continues to share his story to reduce stigma and inspire others. He believes that with timely treatment, perseverance, and the support of loved ones, even the most severe forms of TB can be overcome.
NAMRTA YADAV
Namrata Yadav is an MDR-TB survivor and founding member of the TB Survivors Collective whose journey speaks to the quiet strength it takes to survive both illness and isolation. From 2016 to 2018, she underwent two difficult years of treatment marked by severe side effects that left her physically weak and emotionally overwhelmed. With little awareness about the impact of the medicines, her suffering was often misunderstood, and the absence of emotional support pushed her into deep depression.
Her life began to change when she received counseling support from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). Through patient listening, reassurance, and consistent psychosocial care, she slowly regained hope and the strength to continue treatment.
In 2018, she successfully completed her TB journey, not just medically cured, but emotionally stronger. After her recovery, Namrata chose to stand beside others walking the same path. As a peer educator with MSF, she facilitated support group meetings for patients, sharing her story openly so that others would feel less alone. Today, as a founding member of the TB Survivors Collective, she is deeply committed to ensuring that no patient feels unheard or unsupported. For her, counseling, reducing stigma, and spreading TB awareness are not just advocacy goals – they are personal promises shaped by her own experience.
Meera Yadav
Meera Yadav is an XDR-TB (Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis) survivor whose journey reflects extraordinary resilience and unwavering commitment to justice in TB care.
Diagnosed with tuberculosis in 2013, Meera endured years of intense physical and emotional struggle, battling one of the most drug-resistant forms of the disease. Her treatment journey, included the newer drugs Bedaquiline and Delamanid, which ultimately led to her cure. At 32, Meera lives with half a lung after surviving both MDR-and DR-TB. Along the way, she faced profound personal losses, including the separation from her young son and the passing of her mother. Beyond the medical hardships, she also endured deep social stigma and humiliation associated with TB-experiences that shaped her resolve to challenge discrimination and systemic barriers in TB care.
Transforming her survival into purpose, Meera has become a leading community advocate with over eight years of experience in engagement and policy advocacy. She is a founding member of the TBSC Survivors Collective and serves on the India Country Coordinating Mechanism (ICCM), representing the voices of people affected by TB. She has spoken at national and international platforms and is a petitioner in the Bombay High Court, advocating for compulsory licensing to improve access to Bedaquiline and Delamanid for those in need
FIRDOUS JALGAONKAR
Firdous Jalgaonkar is a proud multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) survivor, activist, and founding member of the TB Survivors Collective based in Mumbai. Diagnosed with drug-resistant tuberculosis in 2016, she successfully completed her treatment in 2020.
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Despite the physical and emotional challenges of her treatment journey, Firdous completed her graduation and represented her college at the university level in sports–demonstrating remarkable resilience both on and off the field. During this time, she also co-authored Hamari Aawaz, a book that sheds light on TB-related stigma and amplifies the voices of survivors.
Today, Firdous works as a freelance HR professional while continuing to advocate for the rights, dignity, and meaningful involvement of TB-affected communities. Through her leadership in the TB Survivors Collective, she remains committed to reducing stigma, supporting patients, and empowering survivors to transform their lived experiences into collective strength and positive change.
VAIBHAV KADAM
Vaibhav Kadam is an XDR-TB survivor, whose six-year journey with tuberculosis (TB) reflects resilience and determination.
Diagnosed in 2013, what initially appeared to be drug-sensitive TB progressed to MDR-TB and eventually DR-TB due to delayed and limited diagnostic capacity. He underwent prolonged treatment that included painful injections and significant side effects such as peripheral neuropathy, hearing issues, and vision complications. At one stage, his chances of survival were considered very low.
A turning point came when he received a regimen that included newer drugs such as Bedaquiline and Delamanid, along with Imipenem and other supportive medicines, combined with close monitoring and counseling support. After completing treatment, Vaibhav contributed as a peer educator, engaged with media platforms, and participated in national and international forums to share his experience. Today, he works with the Municipal Corporation and is an active member of the TB Survivors Collective. He remains committed to reducing TB-related stigma, raising awareness, and advocating for timely diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and comprehensive support for people infected and affected by TB.
SAPNA SAINI
Sapna Saini is a multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) survivor and dedicated community advocate whose journey has been closely intertwined with her family’s experience of tuberculosis. In 2018, her father was diagnosed with TB. During his treatment, Sapna herself was diagnosed and hospitalized before beginning a six-month course of therapy. Like many patients, she faced fear, emotional distress, and the daily challenge of continuing her medicines. Counseling became a crucial source of strength, helping her stay motivated and complete her treatment successfully.
In 2023, when her sister was diagnosed with TB, Sapna once again took on a supportive role-guiding her through denial, treatment fatigue, and uncertainty, alongside counseling support from MSF. These experiences shaped her commitment to community action. As a member of a CBO,
Sapna works to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and highlight the importance of counseling and treatment adherence.
She firmly believes that TB can be overcome not only through medicines, but through understanding, empathy, and sustained support.
NITESH YADAV
Nitesh Yadav is a two-time tuberculosis (TB) survivor, educator, and passionate youth advocate dedicated to advancing awareness, reducing stigma, and strengthening community engagement in the fight against TB. Based in Mumbai, he is an active member of the TB Survivor Collective, where he contributes to youth-led initiatives that place lived experience at the center of advocacy and action.
Drawing on his personal journey with TB, Nitesh has led and participated in numerous awareness sessions and drug-resistant
TB sensitization workshops across educational institutions and community platforms. A firm believer in the transformative power of youth leadership and digital platforms, Nitesh leverages social media to amplify accurate information, challenge misconceptions, and create supportive spaces for those affected by TB.
Through his continued engagement with the TB Survivor Collective, he strives to empower fellow survivors, elevate their voices, and contribute to building a more informed, inclusive, and compassionate society.
POOJA YADAV
Pooja Yadav is an XDR-TB (Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis) survivor who was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 2015 at the age of seventeen. Due to delayed diagnosis and inadequate treatment, her condition progressed from MDR-TB to XDR-TB, resulting in nearly four years of prolonged and challenging therapy. During this period, she faced not only the physical toll of the disease but also isolation and a lack of emotional support. The infection also affected her sister, deepening the impact on her family.
Her journey began to change when she received appropriate treatment along with regular follow-ups, nutritional assistance, and counseling support from the Mumbai Clinic of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). For the first time, she felt heard, understood, and cared for—an experience that became a turning point in her recovery.
Today, Pooja is a founding member of the TB Survivors Collective and an active community advocate. She works to promote timely diagnosis, access to proper treatment, and the importance of psychosocial support. She believes that TB is not cured by medicines alone, but through dignity, understanding, and standing beside those who feel alone.
