Drug-resistant TB

A breath of fresh air: New treatment regimens giving hope to XDR TB patients in Chechnya

Videos and Photos7 December 2015
Msf153187 New Treatment Xdr Tb Chechnya

Republican TB Dispensary in Grozny, Chechnya, Russian Federation. It is the central medical facility for TB diagnosis and treatment in the republic.

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MSF doctors Animesh Sinha and Milana Khusainova in the corridor of the XDR TB department at the Republican TB Dispensary in Grozny, Chechnya

Msf158109 New Treatment Xdr Tb Elena

Elena, 35, from Grozny city, is an XDR TB patient in the Republican TB Dispensary. She was first diagnosed with tuberculosis back in 2001. 

Msf158111 New Treatment Xdr Tb Pic4

Movsar, from Novye Atagi, is an XDR TB patient in the republican TB dispensary. In 2010 he was first diagnosed with TB, in 2011 with MDR TB and in July 2014 with XDR TB.

Msf153204 New Treatment Xdr Tb Grozny Malika

Malika, 48, a journalist from Grozny, was first diagnosed with TB in 1994. In 2009 she had a relapse. In 2013 she was hospitalised again.

Msf153294 Jayna

Jayna, 28, a mother of 3, is an XDR TB patient in the Republican TB Dispensary. She was first diagnosed with TB in 2008 and had several relapses since. 

Msf153285 Elsi Gekhi Tb Patient

Elsi, 62, a driver from Gekhi, Urus-Martan district of Chechnya, is a father of 4. In 2003 he was diagnosed with diabetes, and in 2013 with MDR TB. 

Msf153299 Iiyas Pensioner Xdr Tb Patient

Ilyas, 59 is a pensioner from Zavodskoy district of Grozny and an XDR TB patient on ambulatory treatment. 

Msf153301 Iiyas New Treatment Tb Patients

Ilyas, 59, a pensioner from Zavodskoy district of Grozny and an XDR TB patient on ambulatory treatment. He’s been following his treatment course for almost two years and is due to complete it in October 2015. 

Msf153228 Ruslan 43 New Treatment Xdr Tb

Ruslan, 43, a welder from Mesker-Yurt, Shali district, Chechnya. In 2013 he was diagnosed with TB in prison.

Msf153232 Sultan New Treatment Xdr Tb

Sultan, 22, from Serzhen-Yurt, Shali district, Chechnya, is on ambulatory treatment for XDR TB.

Msf153482 Zargan 51 New Tb Treatment

Zargan, 51, , from Yalkhoy-Mokhk, Kurchaloy district of Chechnya, is an XDR TB patient on ambulatory treatment. She lives in her home village in a mountainous district with her brother’s family. 

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She first contracted TB 20 years ago during the war, but as hospital treatment was unavailable then she took treatment at home, but didn’t get cured. 

Msf153488 Sapikhat Xdr Tb Patient

Sapikhat, 53, from Kenkhi, Sharoy district of Chechnya, is an XDR TB patient on ambulatory treatment. She lives with her husband, a teacher, and 3 children.

Msf153496 Msf Team Visit Outpatients

MSF team on the way to visit an outpatient with XDR TB in a remote village of Kenkhi in mountainous Sharoy district on the border with neighbouring Dagestan. It’s 3 hours’ drive on a bumpy road from the capital – Grozny.

Msf153187 New Treatment Xdr Tb Chechnya
Msf153190 New Treatment Xdr Tb Pic2
Msf158109 New Treatment Xdr Tb Elena
Msf158111 New Treatment Xdr Tb Pic4
Msf153204 New Treatment Xdr Tb Grozny Malika
Msf153294 Jayna
Msf153285 Elsi Gekhi Tb Patient
Msf153299 Iiyas Pensioner Xdr Tb Patient
Msf153301 Iiyas New Treatment Tb Patients
Msf153228 Ruslan 43 New Treatment Xdr Tb
Msf153232 Sultan New Treatment Xdr Tb
Msf153482 Zargan 51 New Tb Treatment
Msf153483 Zargan Pic 2
Msf153488 Sapikhat Xdr Tb Patient
Msf153496 Msf Team Visit Outpatients

MSF has been running a joint TB diagnosis and treatment programme together with the Chechen Ministry of Health since 2004. MSF’s activities are focused on patients with difficult-to-treat extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB) and co-morbidity diabetes and tuberculosis. MSF supports diagnostics and treatment providing medicines, laboratory equipment and supplies, as well as adherence counselling and psychosocial support to patients and their families. MSF medics and other specialists work in collaboration with their Ministry of Health counterparts.

photography by Lana Abramova