Nestled in the hilly neighborhood of Bagong Nayon in Antipolo City, Philippines, a steep and narrow road winds its way to Niccolo Earl Ibarra’s home. In the small two-room house, decorated with Ibarra’s own artwork, the 27-year-old shares his living space with his parents, younger sister, and dog.
In August 2022, Ibarra faced a familiar hurdle: tuberculosis. Having conquered the disease once before in 2019, he recognized the symptoms early on. “I felt weak and breathless,” he recalls. “With every inhale and exhale, pain went through my chest and back.”
The path to diagnosis was far from straightforward, lasting around eight months. The doctors were concerned about other symptoms related to his lymph nodes, and prioritized tests with long waiting times before Ibarra finally received an X-ray, followed by a sputum culture test. The test confirmed a drug-resistant strain of TB, extending Ibarra’s treatment to a minimum of nine months with more potent medications and increased side effects compared to those for drug-susceptible TB.
Ibarra’s experience with TB reflects a broader struggle in the Philippines, where the disease remains a significant public health concern. The country ranks among the top 30 high TB burden countries globally, with an estimated 737,000 TB cases in 2022 — accounting for 7% of the world’s TB cases. However, only 59% of these cases were officially reported, indicating a gap in case detection and underreporting.