Community Stories

I almost didn't vaccinate my daughter

My mother-in-law told me vaccines are poison. Everyone in the settlement said the same thing. When my daughter was born, I was scared. But the health mediator came to our home and explained everything — how vaccines work, what the side effects really are. She showed me photos of children with measles. I was more scared of the disease than the vaccine. My daughter got all her vaccines. She is healthy and strong.

I stopped my diabetes medicine and almost died

I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at 45. The medicine made my stomach hurt, so I stopped taking it. My neighbor said cinnamon tea would cure me. For 2 years I drank cinnamon tea instead. Then one day I collapsed. My blood sugar was over 500. The doctors said my kidneys were damaged. Now I take my medicine every day. I wish I had never stopped.

My first pregnancy — I didn't know I could see a doctor for free

When I got pregnant at 19, I didn't go to a doctor for 6 months. I didn't have insurance and I thought it would cost too much. A health mediator told me that prenatal care is free for all pregnant women in Serbia. She helped me register. The doctor found that I had anemia and high blood pressure. If I hadn't gone, my baby could have been in danger.

The hospital tried to send me away

I went to the emergency room with chest pain. The nurse looked at me and said 'We're full, go to another hospital.' I knew this wasn't right. I said: 'I have chest pain. You must examine me. Please give me your name.' Her attitude changed immediately. They examined me and found I had a heart problem that needed treatment. If I had left, I could have had a heart attack.

TB is not a death sentence — but you must finish the medicine

I was coughing for months. I thought it was just a cold. When I finally went to the doctor, they said I had tuberculosis. I was terrified — I thought I would die. But the doctor explained that TB can be cured with 6 months of medicine. The hardest part was taking pills every day for 6 months, even when I felt better after 2 months. But I finished. I am cured.

Depression is not weakness — it's an illness

After my husband died, I couldn't get out of bed for months. My family said I was lazy. They said 'just be strong.' But I couldn't. A health mediator noticed something was wrong and took me to a doctor. The doctor said I had depression — a real medical condition. I started medicine and talking to a counselor. Slowly, I got better. I am not weak. I was sick.