Green answers questions regarding her TB initiative:

You were a final year medical student when you were crowned Miss SA; what will this bring to your TB outreach?

Being a sixth-year medical student allowed me to witness the TB problem first hand.

It has helped me identify the need for this outreach, and through my studies I have a better understanding of the disease, allowing me to stand more strongly in support of this project.

The experience with patient-doctor interaction also helps me relate and empathise with those who have been affected by this disease.

Tell us about your personal journey with TB

I was officially diagnosed by an infectious specialist in June 2015 after a number of tests, and I started treatment immediately.

I made the decision not to tell any of my extended family and friends for fear of being treated differently and isolated as this often happens with TB patients.

In my second month of treatment I could no longer handle the discomfort of sitting through lectures. I then spoke to my lecturer who immediately got me help from a specialist doctor at Groote Schuur.

The university was very supportive throughout the process and offered counselling. My treatment continued until I developed hepatitis secondary to the medication. This was when it got really bad. I felt ill every day for a month and I deferred my exams and moved back home. My medication was then changed and soon I started feeling better until eventually I was cured.

The whole story was more traumatic than I allowed myself to admit. It not only affected me but also my immediate family and close friends.

What did you learn?

I grew and learned so much about myself through the process. I always saw myself as a strong and independent woman. While being ill I was vulnerable and needed help.

I learned that you don’t have to deal with everything by yourself.

I was disappointed in myself for falling ill, placing a strain on my family and deferring an exam as a third-year medical student. Speaking about this now is hopefully not only helping other people speak up but is also helping me deal with it.

In 2014, the World Health Assembly adopted WHO’s End TB Strategy to eliminate the global TB epidemic by 2035 by reducing 90% of TB cases. Do you think this is going to happen?

I believe it is very possible, but will require a lot of strategising.