CHEST Guidelines-Tuberculosis---A-holocaust-of-the-prime

Tuberculosis---A-holocaust-of-the-prime_chest

Pdf Summary

The poem "Tuberculosis - A holocaust of the prime" is a poignant reflection by George Vilanilam, a Non-PG Resident working in the Neurosurgery department at Christian Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana, India. The poem recounts the tragic story of a young woman who succumbed to tuberculosis despite the availability of inexpensive and effective treatment, largely due to the superstitions and stigmas that surrounded the medication regimen.<br /><br />Vilanilam draws a vivid contrast between the quiet, dream-like innocence of a child and the harsh reality faced by her mother, who lay trapped by her illness. The poem captures the mother's silent suffering as she grapples with her fate, tethered to a ventilator, aware of the life she once had and the loved ones she will leave behind.<br /><br />The poem highlights the devastating impact of tuberculosis, once revered as a disease of time that would diminish with purification rituals. Yet, superstitions discouraged adherence to modern treatments, often referred to as the potions of the English man, which could have saved lives.<br /><br />The narrative ultimately laments the young woman's fate, as she fades into oblivion, deprived of life's simple joys, like hearing the nightingale's song or the scent of rain. Vilanilam urges the importance of overcoming superstition and adhering to scientific guidance, emphasizing that salvation came from understanding and taking the prescribed red pills. Through his words, Vilanilam memorializes the young woman and offers a cautionary tale against ignoring medical advice due to societal stigmas.

Keywords

tuberculosis

George Vilanilam

poem

superstition

stigmas

treatment

Christian Medical College

Ludhiana

Neurosurgery

medical advice