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Tragedy Brings Faces and Names to TB “Quieres cafe, mi amor? Would you like some coffee, my love?” Romel Lacson would ask this question to his wife Dr. Claudia Lacson every morning. He even asked it while she lay dying from TB meningitis in an Atlanta, GA hospital in 2004. He prayed for her to hear his voice and wake-up so they could continue their life filled with love and promise. Yet the complications from TB were too great. Claudia, along with her prematurely born daughter Emma, died in the summer of 2004. Romel knew that Claudia’s story and the stories of millions of people affected by TB needed to be shared and used in a way that would help prevent the root causes of TB. Their stories and perspectives, often reflecting stigma, isolation, poverty, as well as hope and family support, were missing from the global TB conversation. Guided by Claudia’s deep compassion for caring and advocating for others, Romel founded TB Photovoice in 2005. Using a method called photovoice, persons affected by TB document their own health realities by taking photographs of the people, places and systems that both positively and negatively affect their TB care and treatment. Through this process, participants share their local knowledge and photographs with each other in small groups. They identify themes associated with TB and craft recommendations toward improved TB diagnosis, effective and compassionate person-centered treatment, and ultimate TB elimination. TB Photovoice participants act as recorders, and potential catalysts for social action and change in their own communities. TB Photovoice has assisted projects in Mexico, South Africa, Thailand, Philippines, Brazil and the United States. Photovoice has been a transformative experience for participants in eight locations across Mexico and one in El Paso Texas-Ciudad Juarez border region. As a collective, they have expressed their journey through the fear of loss of a loved one, to the relief of healing. TB Photovoice reminds us that there is a human face to TB. There are faces like Claudia’s and those whose words and photos are represented here. Their voices will help to change policies that impact the root causes of TB if they are given the opportunity. GH
Nostalgia, Longing Aun la recuerdo: su linda voz, cabello negro y largo, esos 2 chongos que me hacia… fue una gran persona, siempre se preocupo por darme lo mejor y cuidar que nada me lastimara… un día se enfermo de tuberculosis, las cosas cambiaron, ella no volvió a ser la misma… siempre trato e salir adelante por mi pero no lo logro… ya nunca la volví a ver. Papi dice que desde el cielo me cuidara pero aquí le voy a necesitar. I still remember her. Her lovely voice, her long black hair and the two pig tails she made for me. She was a great person, always carrying me and watching over me. She got sick one day with tuberculosis and things changed. She was never the same. She always tried to give me her best but she couldn’t. I didn’t see her again. Dad says that she is in heaven and she is looking after me, but I need her here with me. J. David
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ISSUE 08 fall 2010
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In Mexico, TB Photovoice partners with Project Concern International, Solucion TB Project, The Allliance of Border Collaboratives, Programa de Investigacion en Migracion y Salud (PIMSA), and other TB organizations and community organizations. Visit www.tbphotovoice.org