Despite her educated guess that she might have tuberculosis, and a little money to spend on medicines, she is still likely to struggle to get to a health facility for diagnosis and then for repeat treatments and checkups. The ladies shown from the IIMC headquarters are Moslem women whose living quarters are poorly ventilated and who belong to low socio-economic classes. They have left school at an early age, and are not able to write their names. Such local people are often easier to reach from their villages and do not charge so much. For example the peer fakir might give the woman a necklace or amulet containing herbs, seeds, powder and perhaps a holy sentence.
Women are the greater victims of the stigma around the disease.
Research has shown that in their reproductive years, 15-49 they are at greater risk of developing the disease after infection than are men at the same age. Women in India must have a better status within society a position of reasonable socio-economic freedom whereby she can access treatment and afford it. Their health will improve also with their increased utilization of health facilities, a phenomena associated with her greater education. It is vital to alert women to the dangers of late presentation to medical facilities and on a false reliance on herbal doctors and spiritual healers. Household and familial duties are still required of the woman, even if she is suffering from tuberculosis.