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Claudi

I am Claudi Norbert. I am 6 years old and I live in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 01

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In 2014 I became very sick so my Grandmother took me to clinic. 02

Claudi

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The doctor examined me and he suspected tuberculosis. 03

Claudi

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At the clinic we met also Lulu. She gives people advice about TB. 04

Claudi

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Lulu is a volunteer from APOPO’s partner MKUTA. She had TB herself once. 05

Claudi

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She bravely helped me give my sputum sample where I had to cough a lot. 06

Claudi

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The clinic tried to detect what was wrong with me, but they couldn’t find anything. 07

Claudi

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I went home to my family... 08

Claudi

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and to help my grandfather with his pigeons. 09

Claudi

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But after a while I felt worse. Then my little sister also got sick. 10

Claudi

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I was afraid my friends at school would get sick too. 11

Claudi

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“Claudi coughed a lot and became too weak to come to school” - Suzanna John 12

Claudi

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Then one day, the clinic called me in and told me I had tuberculosis. 13

Claudi

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My sputum sample had also been sent to APOPO 14Pic Ville Palonen

Claudi

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Where it was tested by rats who examine 10 people’s samples and sniff for TB 15Pic Jeroen Van Loon

Claudi

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When they smell TB, they stop and hold their noses over it for 2-3 seconds 16Pic James Oatway

Claudi

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The APOPO lab thoroughly re-tests the sample, and tell the clinic if TB is confirmed 17Pic Jeroen Van Loon

Claudi

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APOPO found my TB and the local clinic found my sister’s - she was lucky 18

Claudi

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Lulu then came to my house with our treatment and explained how to take it 19

Claudi

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I felt much better straight away and started going to school again 20

Claudi

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Lulu even came to teach everyone about the dangers of TB 21

Claudi

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And I was proud because I too could explain it to my friends 22

Claudi

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I worked hard and was glad I couldn’t make anyone sick anymore 23

Claudi

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Now I am much better and I can play football again with my brother 24

Claudi

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Thank you APOPO and the HeroRATs 25

Claudi

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