By KT Reporter
Makerere University Lung Institute (MLI) has embarked on an innovative visual research project that uses photography to document the lived experiences of tuberculosis (TB) survivors.
The study, currently underway at two sites; Kawolo General Hospital and its surrounding settlements of Geregere, Kitega and Namengo, as well as the China–Uganda Friendship Hospital Naguru in Kampala, invites TB survivors to tell their recovery stories through images. In addition to in-depth interviews, participants are provided with cameras to capture everyday moments that reflect both the physical and emotional impact of TB treatment on their lives.
According to Beata Ringwald, a Research Scientist at the institute, participants embraced the project with enthusiasm. “In just one week, survivors had gathered up to 85 images describing different ways the disease had affected them,” she said.
TB treatment in Uganda typically ranges between four and 24 months depending on the drug regimen and whether the patient has drug-resistant TB. While all the study participants were successfully treated and declared cured, Ringwald notes that the aftermath of the disease lingers. “99 percent of the survivors in the study say their lives have not remained the same,” she explained.
Many reported ongoing symptoms such as breathlessness, chronic fatigue, and reduced energy levels, conditions that prevent them from resuming work or household duties they once managed with ease.
The photo-voice research aims to capture not only the physical and social challenges of recovery but also the resilience and compassion that TB survivors demonstrate in rebuilding their lives. However, the researchers highlight that beyond the scarring of the lungs, TB often leaves deep emotional wounds. Survivors continue to battle stigma, with many reluctant to be identified as having once suffered from TB.
Preliminary findings from the project recommend the creation of peer support networks for survivors, social protection mechanisms, and access to pulmonary rehabilitation programs for those whose lungs remain severely compromised.
Dr Jasper Nidoi, a TB researcher at the institute, emphasized the importance of long-term follow-up care for survivors. He pointed out that TB remains heavily stigmatized, which often drives patients to seek help from traditional healers and pastors rather than medical facilities.
Uganda is among the 30 countries with the highest burden of TB worldwide. Ministry of Health statistics show that the country records an estimated 96,000 new TB cases annually, with men in urban settings disproportionately affected.
Nidoi explained that men are four times more likely than women to test positive for TB.
The study is expected to inform future TB care by shifting focus beyond treatment and cure, to the quality of life of survivors highlighting the need for social, psychological, and physical support long after medical treatment ends.
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