Shireen swims to raise awareness about TB

Shirene Smith of Umtentweni will be making a splash at this year’s aQuelle Midmar Mile by swimming the 8 Mile Club.

The 8 Mile Club, which has become an integral part of this annual event, consists of a special group of swimmers who swim all eight events over the race weekend, raising funds for various charities.

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Shirene, who was diagnosed with TB in December 2011, will swim to raise funds for non-profit organisation TB Proof, which deals specifically with the stigma attached to TB.

The idea to swim for TB was sparked by Shirene’s friend Natalie Pullen, who will swim for CANSA. Shirene plans to raise R20 000 for her nonprofit organisation.

TB is a potentially serious infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs. The bacteria that cause tuberculosis are spread from one person to another through tiny droplets released into the air via coughs and sneezes.

TB Proof’s motto is ‘Zero Stigma’ or ‘Unmask Stigma’ an international awareness and educational campaign, which aims to unmask the stigma surrounding TB.

“As a mother of two small girls, I brushed it aside and ignored the warning signs for as long as possible. I must be honest, I was quite content with the news. Having recently lost a very dear friend to lung cancer, I was relieved the marks on my lungs were a treatable disease,” said Shirene.

She started on her road to recovery and was privileged to have an amazing support structure.

“I was given all the facts. I knew exactly what to expect, and I was reassured that the medication I was being treated with had responded perfectly.”

Medication, however, can only be obtained through a government hospital or clinic.

Shirene feels that every case in South Africa needs to be recorded and monitored as TB remains the top infectious disease killer.

“The system mostly works very well, but as the saying goes ‘there is no rush in Africa’. It takes hours of sitting in queues to receive your meds. I found it so humbling to just be a number, one of the crowd. I cried many tears, not for myself but for the beautiful people of our land.”

TB is not gender-specific, age-specific or race-specific.

“I quickly came to realise that there is an incredible stigma attached to TB. I named it the silent disease – perhaps because it’s so contagious before treatment starts, or maybe because it is associated with HIV/Aids or because some people distinguish it as a ‘lower’ class disease,” she says.

“Whatever the reason, people diagnosed are very reluctant to talk about it, hence they go through treatment with very little emotional /physical support. They ask very few questions and I felt, acquired too little knowledge.”

If you would like to support Shirene and her cause, contact her at 082 7296021.

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