Of her blood, her sputum samples, the X-ray of her chest. There are cavities in her lung field, the presence of bacilli is confirmed, Kalyani Das is diagnosed with tuberculosis. ~ ‘Six to nine months of medicine,’ says Doctor, ‘she needs to have lots of fruits and fish, milk and eggs. Proteins.’ Ma begins to cry. ‘No use crying, we will start with an injection. Your daughter is a nurse, she knows the drill. Streptomycin injections for at least three months.’ Yes, Kalyani has read this in the nurses’ handbook. A set of six – or is it seven pills? – every morning after breakfast. She knows their names: Rifampicin, Ethambutol. ‘Collect the pills from the TB centre downstairs,’ says Doctor. ‘You don’t have to pay anything, the government pays for this. She cannot miss a single day. Who all are there at home?’ ‘The three of us. And her sister and brother, five people in all,’ says Baba. ‘Can you put her in a separate room, just for a few weeks?’ ‘We don’t have one, we live in one room, Doctor.’ ‘Then you have to be very careful because there is always risk of infection.
What do You think about She Will Build Him A City?
