500 Meters To Sanity Part II


  • Photographer
    Michele Maestrini
  • Prize
    Honorable Mention
  • Company/Studios
    Freelance
  • Date of Photograph
    May 2011
  • Technical Info
    35 mm Film Photography

TB and HIV have found an idyllic breeding ground in Kibera—where poor ventilation, over crowding, atrocious sanitation, bad nutritional diet and lack of clean water as well as a population in excess of 1 million people in 4 sq km, has accelerated the extremely high spread rate within the Slums. I was privileged to interview patients with TB/HIV. They had a common demeanor of being ravaged and abused physically and emotionally. Scars that fester are reflected in their eyes: of suffering, pain and isolation from their neighbours, friends and family, their supposed tower of strength.

Story


TB and HIV have found an idyllic breeding ground in Kibera—where poor ventilation, over crowding, atrocious sanitation, bad nutritional diet and lack of clean water as well as a population in excess of 1 million people in 4 sq km, has accelerated the extremely high spread rate within the Slums. It is airborne and highly contagious and if not confined through treatment, each person can infect up to 15 people a year.

The Kibera TB Clinic states that the levels of intensity of TB/HIV per capita vary largely throughout the slums and is dependant on the levels of depravity, overcrowding and sanitation. Due to the sheer, high volume of cases with varying degrees of severity, new patients are referred to other clinics in neighbouring areas delaying treatment and quite possibly discouraging patient compliance.

I was privileged to interview patients with TB/HIV. They had a common demeanor of being ravaged and abused physically and emotionally. Scars that fester are reflected in their eyes: of suffering, pain and isolation from their neighbours, friends and family, their supposed tower of strength. Stigma is still a major problem. Ignorance will be its downfall. The tendency is to sweep the disease under the carpet. The embarrassment is too high a price for most, especially women. Poor ventilation being the most potent means of contracting active TB, the catastrophic result could literally wipe out Kibera. The community health workers are struggling to highlight these issues with only a few victories to talk about.


You can create multiple entries, and pay for them at the same time.
Just go to your History, and select multiple entries that you would like to pay for.