From Diagnosis to Recovery: A Mother’s Journey Beating MDR-TB in Kazakhstan

A shorter, nine-month treatment regimen for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis helped quickly cure Aisara and reunite her with her family.

Posted on Jan 29, 2025

Graphic of doctor looking at clipboard with a lung x-ray and medication with a patient chart
Graphic created by Maggie Zhang / PIH

Aisara’s* year began like any other. As a busy mother of four, her days in early 2023 flew by in a whirlwind of caring for her young children, household tasks, and staying active in the local community. But by August, as the summer drew to a close, she began to feel unwell, more tired than usual.

At first, Aisara assumed her persistent cough and fatigue were symptoms of a common cold. But when she began losing weight and her cough worsened, the 41-year-old decided to visit a nearby clinic in her hometown to make sure it was nothing more serious. There, a sputum sample and chest X-ray confirmed an unspeakable fear: she had tuberculosis (TB)—the world’s deadliest infectious disease.  

Follow-up testing conducted in a TB center by the National TB Program, which receives technical assistance from Partners In Health Kazakhstan, revealed even more alarming news: Aisara had multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), a particularly cruel and deadlier version of TB. Kazakhstan is one of the 30 high MDR-TB burden countries, with more than a quarter of newly diagnosed TB patients and nearly three-quarters of retreatment cases developing into this more resistant form.  

Since 2009, PIH has partnered with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Health to tackle TB, including MDR-TB and the even more severe extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB), providing care in prisons and for the general population. PIH currently helps to fight TB in all regions of the country, including the clinic where Aisara sought care.  

Due to the contagious nature of TB and the desire to start treatment as rapidly as possible, Aisara was hospitalized in one of the PIH-supported TB clinics, where doctors also provided education on her condition.  

“I didn’t understand how I could get tuberculosis, where I could get infected,” Aisara recalled. “There was a time when I cried and couldn’t accept my illness. The doctors explained everything—about the illness, treatment regimens, as well as the medications that I had to take.”

Initially hesitant about a lengthy treatment that would keep her away from her young family, Aisara was relieved when PIH Kazakhstan staff suggested a new, shorter, nine-month regimen—nearly half the standard 18 months—that had been successful among other MDR-TB patients. After discussing it with her family, she agreed to proceed and remained committed, never missing a dose of medication throughout her treatment.    

By February 2024, Aisara’s health had significantly improved, and she was discharged from the hospital, able to return home.

“Thanks to the people in white gowns, my condition improved. I was finally able to hug my children,” said Aisara. “I was happy.”

Alongside the medical care she received, Aisara credits other crucial factors for her recovery: financial assistance from the state, which enabled her to buy food and support her family while undergoing treatment, as well as psychological support, which helped her navigate one of the most challenging times in her life.  

“During treatment, I realized that in order to recover from any disease, you need the support of loved ones,” she said. “A positive attitude toward treatment and good, professional health workers who you can trust.”  

Today, Aisara is grateful for the care she received from her local TB doctors and the PIH Kazakhstan team which helped her achieve the progress she made in such a short time. She is healthy and home with her family, immersed, once more, in the busy rhythm of motherhood.

*Patient gave permission to use first name only 

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