Witness
A Mother's Courage
A young mother and her family experience the devastating impact of extensively drug-resistant TB in South Africa.
Witness Last Modified: 12 Sep 2012 08:15

Filmmmakers: Mark Turner and Fiona Lloyd-Davies

In South Africa, thousands of people die from Tuberculosis (TB) every year. It is one of the country's biggest killers – especially as it grows more and  more resistant to drugs.

The deadliest variety is XDR – TB, extensively drug-resistant TB.

Zelda Hansen is just one of the XDR patients at the Jose Pearson Hospital in Port Elizabeth.

Although she is not feeling sick, the young mother has to stay in the hospital, separated from her husband and sons because the risk of them being infected is too high.

"I feel like I'm in prison. I am found guilty for something I can't explain," she says.

Watch more Witness films for global issues brought into focus through courageous and inspiring human stories.

Editor's note: This film first aired on May 4, 2011.

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Source:
Al Jazeera
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