My name is Thobeka Makhethi. Last year 2005 I coughed for more than two months and I lost weight. I went to the clinic and found I have TB. I sleep in hospital for ten months. After six months I find out I’m an MDR-TB (Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis) and started MDR treatment. Now I’m seven months on MDR treatment. My child who is Yandisa Makhethi, she’s also involved on MDR treatment. She is one year and seven months old. The TB is caused by coldness of (the) place I’m living in.

Simphiwe Velani, it is the second time I have TB. I’m staying with my partner who diagnosed negative for TB. I’m not working, I only get piece jobs (casual jobs) I think that I have TB because I was living with people who had TB, but they didn’t finish their treatment.

I Regina, will just say that I have had TB 7 times with my family. I took all of my treatment. And in 2003 I had a big lung operation. Then James, Juanita, Thomas (her children) had TB. They all completed their treatment. It is only James that is receiving TB treatment now. And in 2002 he had a lung operation. It is only him who has TB now. But he is receiving his treatment at Uitsig Clinic.

I am sick with TB for the second time, I also have asthma. I am using the (asthma) pump. The place that I’m staying in is not in good condition. I am very sick and unemployed. The place I’m staying in is the chicken and egg storeroom in a (abandoned) farmhouse. The water runs all over and there are no windows. I am surviving with the sick grant – R780 per month. I think it is the paint that causes TB because I worked in the paint industry. I’ll be happy if I can find my own place to stay.

I am Ncosibaca Thinga-Thinga. In 1991 I was sick from TB. One day I decided to test for TB because I felt very sick. In 1993 I was diagnosed again, and in 1995 and 2000. Since then I’ve never had TB again. I had an accident where I was pushed off a train coming from work. It was from Nyanga when people were getting off at Phillipi station. After I was pushed I saw myself lying by tracks without legs. I think TB is caused by dirtiness of (the) place we living in.

My name is Andrew and two months ago I got very sick. I thought I had the flu but later it was pulmonary TB. So the Dr. put me treatment the reason for this infection was I am HIV positive and refused to use my medication which was a stupid decision because I still wanted to drink beer. But my whole family except our baby are all HIV positive and has TB of different kind.

I got TB in 2001 for the first time, and in 2006 for the second time. Myself I found out that I have HIV and there is no other treatment I am using at the moment. I have got support at home. The first time I had TB it was difficult because I couldn’t even walk. But now there is nothing that I can’t do. TB it is caused by coughing out sputum and then spreading the virus; and in dirtiness; and by drinking cold drinks with acid, but I’m talking about the drinks with no alcohol; and the people that are smoking.