“I didn’t know I had TB,” Pooja recalls. At first, she was treated for what she believed was double pneumonia. It was only after further tests at the hospital that she learned she had MDR‑TB. Facing a two‑year treatment regimen with overwhelming monthly costs, severe side effects, and little initial improvement, she felt deeply discouraged. Her medication side effects often went unaddressed, and at times she struggled even to take the medication properly. Still, Pooja remained determined to stay on treatment—holding on to the hope that completing it was her only path to recovery.
