(Please note the campaign is in Canadian dollars, so convert accordingly for your own currency!)

Nandita is a force to be reckoned with in the TB advocacy community and a dear friend to us all. Recently, she suffered a big personal setback when one of the processors for her cochlear implants was knocked off and smashed. You can read Nandita's story in her own words below, and please help us help her get her hearing back.

NOTE: Please do not share this campaign publicly (on social media, etc). We've been asked to keep this within the TB community only. Thank you!

"I lost my hearing suddenly in a matter of 10 minutes, due to an anti-TB drug I was administered in 2013. I had a prolonged and traumatic battle against two rounds of tuberculosis. However the medicine-induced deafness came as a bolt from the blue and pushed me into a very long period of clinical depression.

In an attempt to stand up on my feet again and regain my lost self-esteem, I started working with a financial newspaper in India. I also began helping fellow persons with TB and advocating for patients and their right to quality and accessible care. My work was recognized on the global stage when I was invited in September 2018, to speak at the UN General Assembly in New York at the High-Level Meeting on TB. I read about cochlear implants while researching on technology to improve my hearing. However, severe financial constraint caused due to my TB treatment hampered us from going ahead with the procedure. Kind-hearted donors came forward and I underwent cochlear implant surgery and subsequent intensive speech therapy in November 2018, to help me partially improve my hearing. However due to an accident I had last month, the audio processor – which helps me perceive better sounds -- on the left ear got smashed. I am therefore unable to hear anything from my left side and sounds are extremely distorted.

I am looking to raise US $4,382.80 (Rs 3,00,000) to purchase a new processor, which is proving to be expensive. I would be extremely grateful for your help!"
- Nandita Venkatesan