Poverty and disease in D’kar: A teen’s story

Tuberculous Meningitis (TBM) is a severe, life-threatening inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, caused by the same bacteria that cause tuberculosis. The infection typically begins in the lungs and spreads to the brain, leading to symptoms like persistent headache, fever, and confusion that develop slowly over weeks.

Eighteen-year old Goreng Xhara is recovering from the illness as well as malnourishment. D’kar, a settlement in Gantsi District, has some of the country’s highest poverty rates highlighted by conditions such as malnourishment and leading to diseases such as TBM.