U Than Win, widely known as U Win, lives in Chan Aye Thar Zan, Mandalay in Myanmar. He works as a gold glittering filler for invitation cards. In early 2024, U Win developed a persistent cough lasting over two months.
“I thought it was just seasonal. But it didn’t go away, and my family urged me to see a doctor,” he recalled.
When his condition did not improve after initial treatment, his doctor advised a chest X-ray, which showed signs of tuberculosis (TB). He was referred to a clinic. At that point, U Win remembered a pamphlet he had received earlier from a local volunteer. This led him to connect with a Union TB volunteer, who provided step-by-step guidance to access free TB services.
He underwent further testing at The Union’s Care Centre in Mandalay, including a sputum test, and was diagnosed at the TB Outpatient Department.
“I wasn’t afraid. I just wanted to get better,” he said. “I told the doctor, ‘You can trust me – I’ll take the medicine regularly.’”
He began a six-month TB treatment regimen, taking his medication daily at 6am. Despite experiencing dizziness during the first week, a visiting volunteer reassured him that this side effect would pass. U Win remained fully adherent to the prescribed treatment without missing a single dose.
During his recovery, U Win made another significant decision – he quit smoking. Having started smoking cheroot cigars at the age of 10, he had been addicted for nearly 50 years.
“I tried to quit many times. But after my diagnosis, I knew I had to stop,” he said.
He received tobacco cessation counselling at the Care Centre and quit smoking immediately. He gave away all his lighters and distanced himself from friends who smoked. Without using substitutes like nicotine patches or betel, he managed his cravings by chewing his daughter’s milk-flavoured tablets whenever he felt the urge.
Family support was crucial throughout his recovery. His daughter helped him keep to his medication schedule, while volunteers followed up regularly, provided a sputum collection box and reimbursed his transport costs to the clinic.
U Win remained committed to his treatment despite occasional dizziness and work disruptions due to electricity shortages. By the end of the six months, he had gained weight and felt much stronger.
“Sayama (the volunteer) told me, ‘You don’t even look like a TB patient anymore,’” he said with a smile.
Now fully recovered, U Win has returned to work and is actively raising awareness in his community. He distributes TB pamphlets and shares his story to encourage others.
“If you have a cough for more than two weeks, don’t ignore it. TB treatment is free. And if you smoke – quit. It helps you heal. My friends didn’t believe I could quit, but I did it – and you can too,” he shared.
U Win’s journey from a persistent cough to full recovery from TB is a powerful story of resilience, determination and the impact of community support. With the help of volunteers and free TB services, he not only completed his treatment without missing a dose but also overcame a 50-year smoking addiction.