Noting that women often bear the brunt of TB silently due to societal pressures and limited access to resources, Survivors Against TB (SATB), a collective of tuberculosis (TB) survivors, advocates and experts dedicated to strengthening India’s fight against the deadly disease has launched a unique initiative focusing on the challenges faced by women in the battle against TB.
“This initiative is about ensuring that our voices and experiences are heard, understood, represented and inform policy and programs. We need better gender responsive care for women impacted by TB in India and globally,” said Akshata Acharya, co-lead of the initiative. “As a TB survivor, I know firsthand how critical it is to address the unique barriers women face. We must create a world where women feel supported, heard, and empowered to seek TB care without fear or stigma.”
SATB’s Women’s TB Initiative will work to raise awareness about the intersection of gender and TB, advocate for gender-responsive healthcare policies, and work with women affected by TB to take leadership roles in the fight against the disease. By creating visible, safe spaces for women to share their stories and participate actively in decision-making processes, SATB hopes to foster a community where their concerns are prioritized and addressed effectively, added Acharya.
Deepti Chavan, a survivor of multidrug-resistant TB and co-lead of the initiative, chipped in, “Women often bear the brunt of TB silently due to societal pressures and limited access to resources. This initiative is not just about awareness or ending stigma; it’s about systemic change. We need policies and healthcare systems that are inclusive and recognize the specific challenges women encounter in TB care. Together, we can bring about that change.”
Dr Sangeeta Sharma, Professor at Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), Delhi agreed that TB has a significant gender dimension that is frequently overlooked in health systems and disease control efforts. Gender disparities in TB care can impact the way men and women experience the disease, access treatment, and respond to care. Hence, it is important that women are centre in the TB Elimination Campaign, said Dr Sharma who has been working on creating awareness about the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
A study conducted a few years ago by Lucknow-based King George Medical University (KGMU) of 960 newly diagnosed cases of tuberculosis among women showed that at least 25% reported being isolated and discriminated against in their homes, 18% were rejected by their husbands and in-laws and 40% taken off the marriage market. Infected women were rarely cared for by their families, but wives had to take care of infected men.
