Monica Katyo

Posted: March 21, 2005

A young widow and mother of five children, Monica Kayto, 39, is extremely sick with both tuberculosis (TB) and stomach cancer.

Currently a patient in Nyadire United Methodist Hospital's TB ward, Monica will remain in the hospital for a full month as Dr. Anand Rao and Dr. Maxwell Rupfutse work to stabilize the TB with medication and make sure she is no longer contagious before sending her home to her family. A respiratory disease characterized by fatigue, fever, night sweats and weight loss, TB, compounded by the AIDS virus, is one of the leading causes of death in Zimbabwe today. The disease is treated using a variety of oral antibiotics over a six to 12 month period, or longer.

While the doctors were easily able to diagnose and treat the TB when they first met Monica, they were initially puzzled by the causes of her continuing stomach ailments. Once the TB was diagnosed, Drs. Rao and Rupfutse sent Monica to the capital city of Harare, a four-hour bus-ride away, for further testing at the central government hospital. It was there that it was discovered that Monica also suffered from stomach cancer.

Now knowing that they battle cancer along with the tuberculosis, the doctors and nurses can more fully address Monica's needs. She has had to remain at the hospital, under 24-hour surveillance, for over a month but is beginning to feel better, especially since the symptoms of her TB have diminished.

Even though Monica misses her family and is ready to go home, her smile remains easy and her spirits are high. She is certain she will beat the diseases. Monica is very grateful to have found such a warm environment at Nyadire United Methodist Hospital and deeply appreciates the quality of service she has received.