Born and raised in Mumbai, India, and now based in Toronto, Himanshu Patel is a passionate tuberculosis (TB) patient advocate and long-distance runner.
To mark World TB Day on the 24th of March and ensure that we inform our efforts to end TB with the stories of those most closely impacted by it, we sat down with Himanshu to learn more about his TB story, experiences as an advocate, and hopes as a survivor:
RC: Can you tell us a bit about your TB story?
Himanshu: My treatment was 2 years long, involving 25 pills a day and an injection for 6 months. While I faced severe side effects such as depression, peripheral neuropathy, and ototoxicity, the support from my friends, family, employer and TB survivors made my journey less miserable. After TB, I started running and ended up running 100km in 18 hours 25 minutes to be an example for those battling this illness that they can also live a normal life after TB.
RC: You, like many of our volunteers, are an advocate for TB elimination as well as support for survivors – what does that look like for you?
Himanshu: I have worked with Survivors Against TB in India, to talk about various aspects of TB. I counsel patients one-on-one and help them navigate through the treatment phase. I am with TBPeople Canada, a network of survivors, working to strengthen Canada's fight against TB.
RC: What is your vision for the future of TB advocacy? What are the largest issues / obstacles in achieving it?
Himanshu: TB treatment policies should involve TB survivors' perspectives so they can understand their challenges better and help them overcome them. Healthcare is about both patients' health and care. A care that comes with compassion, and dignity and puts the patients' needs first.
Firstly, there is a need of more advocacy so there are better treatment options available. Secondly, we need to show patients that TB is not the end of the world and that they can still live a normal life, even do extraordinary things such as run ultra-marathons, study at the best universities and whatnot. Thirdly, healthcare providers need to be educated about how they should treat/care for patients so we do not add any more struggle to their already intensively stressful treatment.
RC: What do you think Canada can do to make progress in ending TB?
Himanshu: Canada needs to add more funds to the global fund and do the basics right such as making the right diagnosis, making sure the medicines are available and accessible, providing holistic healthcare including patient counselling and prioritising the needs of TB patients.
RC: Do you have any words for our volunteer advocates who are fighting to generate the political will in Canada to invest in TB?
Himanshu: I could not be more grateful for the work you're doing. I want you to know that your work changes lives, it has changed my life for the better. But I am one exception out of the many, millions are still struggling and need our help. Let's help them 🙂
This World TB Day, Himanshu will join Results Canada advocates at our event Unite to #EndTB in Toronto! Join us on March 24th to learn about global and domestic TB advocacy, make compelling signs and walk to the Toronto sign – one of 51 monuments lighting up in red this year thanks to our volunteers. Click here to register now!
Not in Toronto? Not to worry! Join Results Canada volunteers meeting up across the country or visit a monument lighting up near you, more details here.
