In 2025, I was diagnosed with a respiratory disease, tuberculosis (TB). At first, the news took me by surprise, and it wasn’t easy to cope with the situation, especially since I had already heard many rumours and prejudices about people with TB. In the community and even within my own family, people with tuberculosis are often discriminated against and treated differently.
After being diagnosed at the Machava I Health Center, I returned home and told my family about my health condition. Their reaction was one of fear and panic. A few days later, they began treating me differently. I started facing discrimination within my own home because they were afraid of catching the disease. They no longer interacted with me in the same way, and I felt isolated and sad.
On March 20, 2026, TB Champion Rosália Mateus visited my home. She introduced herself and explained the work she does in the community through the ADPP OneImpact TB Eco Voice Project.
After the explanation, I felt motivated and interested in using the app. I immediately asked for help installing OneImpact on my phone, and the project champion supported me through the process. That same day, I was able to report the discrimination I was experiencing from my family.
With the support of the project champion and my neighborhood’s community leader, an awareness-raising meeting was organized with my family. During the conversation, they were educated about tuberculosis, the rights of people affected by the disease, and the importance of family support during treatment. Three days after the meeting, my family acknowledged that they had been violating my human rights due to prejudice and a lack of information about TB. They apologized and promised to support me and take care of me throughout my treatment.
Today, I feel happy because my situation has completely changed. I now interact normally with my family, and the barrier of discrimination has been resolved. Before, I suffered in silence and didn’t know where to report the problem. Now, with the OneImpact app installed on my phone, I can seek support whenever necessary.
In addition to using the platform for my own benefit, I have also helped 18 people affected by TB report barriers that hinder diagnosis, treatment continuity, and mental health issues caused by the disease and discrimination.