PukhtunWomen

By Shahina Maqbool

The tremendous response received by ‘Swara,’ a unique documentary that broke the silence on the inhuman tribal custom of giving away girls as compensation to end disputes in the North West Frontier Province, has encouraged director and producer Samar Minallah to undertake a project, which aims to create awareness about tuberculosis in NWFP and to motivate affected patients to seek and complete treatment.

Titled ‘Sabawon,’ which literally means ‘Dawn,’ the Pushto documentary shares basic information about the diagnosis and treatment of TB and addresses the stigma associated with the disease. It is based on the premise that no financial hurdle should stop any TB patient from seeking treatment, which is available free of cost.

The documentary has been made with the support of GTZ and the provincial TB control program and was launched in Peshawar at an event marking World TB Day.

The movie has been filmed in various districts of NWFP and incorporates the voices of people affected with tuberculosis. In order to reach out to the general population in a culturally sensitive way, the documentary highlights the experiences of TB patients who have been cured and are now living a normal and healthy life.

As Munfarikha Bibi from Swabi puts it, “I was on my death bed. Ever since I started the treatment, I am not only able to offer my prayers but also try to tell everyone to keep a lookout for symptoms of TB. I persuade them to start treatment so that their lives are back to normal.”

A Mardan-based college student Shahbaz, who is now cured after completing the eight- month treatment course, vows to spread the word around so that more lives are saved. “I will become a teacher, and like a jihad, will educate youth about TB and persuade people to start the treatment and not be intimidated by social stigma,” says Shahbaz.

One of the most important issues that have been highlighted through ‘Sabaun’ is that no financial hurdle should stop anyone to seek treatment once symptoms of TB are identified. It makes economic sense to invest in health to fight poverty.

This is further stressed by the Chief Khateeb of NWFP, Qari Rooh-ul-Madani, who gives a religious perspective to the issue. According to him, “Islam gives a lot of importance to valuing ones health and life.” Said Shah from Mardan, whose daughter Naila had to face a lot of discrimination after being diagnosed with TB, also shares his experiences in the documentary. According to him, TB remains a disease enshrouded by social stigma that affects the behavior of family members and society in general.

His Naila has fully recovered because of the strong support and affection her parents gave her when rest of the extended family members kept a distance.

Riaz Khan from Peshawar, who is now affected by Multiple Drug Resistant TB, shares his pain and experience. He regrets not following the treatment for 8 months, and about how the disease has physically and financially devastated him.

The documentary also contains an interview of an entire family in Mardan affected with TB. Misconceptions that TB is an incurable disease kept them from seeking help.

The manager of the Provincial TB Control Programme, Dr. Ghafoor, gives basic information regarding the diagnosis and treatment facilities being provided by the government in the fight against TB.

Social isolation and rejection, as well as misconceptions about TB transmission, contribute to the idea that TB is a disease to be feared. Fear of social isolation and rejection remains a barrier in the fight against TB. Although, the documentary gives a hopeful message that ‘TB is curable,’ it also shows how it can devastate families if treatment is not taken.