“I Had TB Twice. This Time, a Rat Helped Diagnose Me”
Mohammed-Sali, a 30-year-old father of two from Ethiopia, lives in Ashewa Meda, Burayu, just outside Addis Ababa. Originally from Kukir, a village near Butajira in the Gurage Zone, he moved to the city ten years ago in search of a better future. When TB returned for a second time, he acted quickly — and thanks to APOPO’s remarkable diagnostic method, he got the treatment he needed. Read his story below:
“Eight years ago, I had TB for the first time. I remember the symptoms clearly — coughing, night sweats, and losing my appetite. I went from one health facility to another for about a month before finally getting diagnosed at a private hospital. I completed the treatment and recovered.
A year ago, I started to feel the same symptoms again. Because I already knew what TB felt like, I didn’t waste time. I went straight to the clinic and got tested. The diagnosis didn’t surprise me because I knew what was coming.
What really concerned me was my family. I’ve been married for four years, and my wife and I have two daughters. One is three, and the other is just six months old. I immediately isolated myself in a separate room to protect them until my coughing stopped. Thankfully, they were tested, and none of them had TB.
The second time around, the clinic emphasized how important it was to take the medicine properly. They told me I had to stick to the schedule and not miss a single dose. I followed everything carefully and started to feel better after four months.
One big difference this time is something I just found out — my diagnosis was made possible by rats. I had no idea that rats could do that. I’m really astonished. I didn’t know they were so useful. I would like to thank the staff and the rats for saving my life. It’s incredible to think rats are helping diagnose TB and saving lives.
I’ve known others with TB too. A friend of mine who used to sleep in the same room also got TB and was treated. I believe TB is still common in Addis, so I always advise people to take precautions like avoiding crowded places, wearing masks, eating nutritious food, and getting screened if they’re coughing.
During my treatment, I wasn’t working. I stayed at home for about four years and relied on support from friends and family. Now I’m back to running my small business — I sell building and household materials, something I’ve been doing for ten years.
What I really want now is a better future for my daughters — better education, a better life. And for anyone who’s showing symptoms, please get tested as soon as possible. Early diagnosis can save your life. It saved mine.”
