When Geeta became seriously ill, her parents took her to the International Nepal Fellowship (INF) TB clinic in the nearby town of Nepalgunj in western Nepal. INF is a Global Fund sub-recipient involved in health and development work with Nepal's government, NGOs and local communities. Geeta was diagnosed with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), a complicated form of TB which requires a two year treatment (compared to the usual six months) and very expensive medicines which her family could not afford. She was also informed that the clinic, which provides treatment for free, was waiting for the drugs and that she would have to wait, which she did. Just as her family had almost given up hope it was told to bring Geeta back to clinic: the life-saving medicine had arrived.

Geeta’s father had to work the fields, tend to the cattle and take care of the house almost single handedly over the two years Geeta required treatment. He also sold some milk to be able to afford fruits and the kind of food that Geeta’s body needed to fight the disease. Mother and daughter stayed together in a single rented room in Nepalgunj for eight full months. Then, the mother went back and forth helping her husband and checking on her daughter.

Today, Geeta continues onto her 23rd month in the one room abode in Nepalgunj battling with the disease and side effects of the medication. She is a fighter. She has found her solace through being an ardent listener of Bageswori FM Radio program. She submitted her own story and even won an award. She pesters the INF clinic to provide her with some kind of educational or employment support.

During Geeta’s home visit, as we cross the Mon Bridge, Geeta’s voice softly says, ”Sir, this is where you would have brought my body to cremate me if the medicine had not come on time.”