Zinaida was forty-five when the war forced her to leave her home in eastern Ukraine. She lost almost everything: her apartment, her job, her usual life, and her sense of security. At first, it seemed to her that her constant cough was just a consequence of dust, cold nights spent in basements, and endless stress. She attributed her fatigue, weight loss, and insomnia to nervous exhaustion. And even the frequent cigarettes that had become a way to calm down a little didn't make her think of a serious illness.

One day, Zinaida came to the social services center to apply for benefits and assistance. The social worker noticed her exhausted appearance, pallor, and cough, and suggested she be examined by a tuberculosis specialist as part of the “You Should Know About Tuberculosis” project.

The diagnosis came as a shock: tuberculosis.

Zinaida recalls that at that moment she seemed to have stopped hearing the world around her. Fear, shame, and a feeling of complete loneliness came over her. She was afraid not only of the disease, but also of people's looks. It seemed to her that now everyone would see in her only the diagnosis. Neighbors became wary, and at night she lay awake, listening to her own heavy breathing.

The treatment was long and exhausting. Weakness, constant coughing, and lack of appetite gradually sapped my strength. But the hardest part was not the pills and procedures, but the feelings of shame and isolation.

During this period, a social worker stayed by her side. She didn’t just do her job—she was the person who didn’t let Zinaida be left alone with her fear. She patiently explained that tuberculosis is treatable, helped her understand the treatment process, talked about side effects, and how important it is not to give up.

When Zinaida was on the verge of despair, the social worker supported her morally, helped her solve practical issues, looked for financial assistance programs, explained how to talk about the disease with loved ones and how to keep others safe. But most importantly, she restored her sense of human dignity.

"Treatment is not a punishment. It is a path back to life," she repeated.

And gradually Zinaida began to believe it.

After a few months of treatment, the first results appeared. She felt her strength returning, her desire to live and build a future reappeared. And then she heard the words she had been waiting for: the disease had been overcome.

But she returned to life a different person — stronger, more attentive to herself and others.

Zinaida later told a social worker, "I thought I just needed medication. But what I really needed was someone to help me through this."

This story is about how healing doesn't just start with medication. Sometimes it starts with a careful look, a simple question, and human support at the right moment.

Thanks to the project only in Kharkiv from the beginning of the year until April 30 1400 people underwent screening questionnaires for signs of tuberculosis, of which 697 persons were referred and underwent a medical examination. It was revealed that 12 tuberculosis cases.

 

The project "You Should Know About Tuberculosis", implemented by the NGO "Social Initiatives for Occupational Health and Safety" (LHSI) with the support of The Global Fund through the Public Health Alliance, is currently operating in six regions of Ukraine, helping people receive timely diagnosis, treatment, and support.