Safina Akter R., 16

Safina Akter Rupali is a 16-year-old girl who lives with her six-member family in Geneva Camp, Mohammadpur, Dhaka, and dreams of becoming self-reliant by opening a small tailoring boutique. She suffered from severe lower abdominal pain for about two weeks, followed by progressive abdominal distension and recurrent vomiting, which increasingly affected her daily activities. Her family took her to Al-Manar Hospital, where diagnostic evaluation confirmed intestinal tuberculosis. Her father, Md. Sabid, is the sole earning member and earns only around USD 90 per month from lace making, making it extremely difficult for the family to meet their basic needs and afford her prolonged medical treatment. The family learned about Helpster Charity through a medical outreach camp in Geneva Camp, giving Safina hope of receiving the care she needs to recover and pursue her dream of becoming independent.

Initially, hospitalization with nutritional support, appropriate antibiotic therapy, proper evaluation for tuberculosis, and supportive treatment will help stabilize her condition, improve her oral tolerance, and reduce abdominal pain, distension, and vomiting. Following confirmation and assessment, referral for DOTS-based anti-TB treatment is expected to control the infection and support recovery, allowing her to gradually resume normal activities. With timely and complete treatment and regular follow-up, the prognosis is favorable. If left untreated, intestinal tuberculosis may progressively worsen, causing severe nutritional problems, intestinal complications, and systemic illness, which can become life-threatening.