TB Relief Artist Series: Bringing the Humanity Back to TB Treatment

Written by Katie Robertson - Public Relations Account Executive

Artist Paulina Siniatkina understands first-hand how isolating tuberculosis (TB) infection can be. After contracting the disease in 2015, Siniatkina spent 7 months in isolation at a TB hospital in Moscow, an experience she has since channeled as inspiration for her art and activism.

Despite being both preventable and treatable, TB remains a persistent problem worldwide, with an estimated 10.8 million people falling ill annually. Though the TB infection risk to most people in low-burden countries is minor, and many will never have to go through this or even know anyone who does, we shouldn’t need it to understand how traumatic TB can be and why it needs to be stopped. Awareness of and compassion for the ongoing prevalence of TB is critical for the global community to make its eradication a top priority, regardless of our individual personal risk.

Imaging Individuals

This need to continue the conversation surrounding TB has been a driving force behind much of Siniatkina’s work in the decade since she was cured of the illness. She remains open to sharing her own story but finds using her talents to showcase the ongoing struggle TB presents for millions across the planet to be more impactful. This can be seen in her various works, which incorporate the harsh, clinical feel of medical images and equipment, as well as more interpretive, artistic touches, juxtaposing the two extremes to show how beauty exists even in pain.

Siniatkina’s latest piece, “Breathe In,” remains consistent with her mission and is a celebration of the individuals behind medical data. “Breathe In” is a video in which 64 chest radiographs have been edited together to give the appearance of one shared set of lungs.

The thesis behind “Breathe In” combines two significant truths in the fight against TB. The first is our collective identity and responsibility to care for each other, which is represented by the lungs, breathing in and out as if all 64 individuals were respiring for one body.

The second truth is that our identity as human beings is not restricted to our medical circumstances. Throughout the video, viewers will notice personal items captured by the X-ray system flashing across the screen as “Breathe In” cycles through each image. These details – a woman’s necklace, a businessman’s button-up shirt, a child’s pin – reveal a small glimpse of who this person is and the life they lead.

Capturing Capabilities

Our ability to see these items reflected back to us in the video is the result of several advancements in imaging technology. First, the safety and capability of X-ray imaging have increased significantly, now to the point where patients do not need to remove their clothes and personal affects. This detail may seem small, but it can make a world of difference to the individual being screened, allowing them to retain their identity and dignity as they are screened for TB and other health conditions. It also increases efficiency in the process of taking an X-ray, as individuals can come and leave without needing to un- and redress. 

Another way that technological advancement has enabled this artwork is through portability. The images for “Breathe In” were captured by MinXray’s IMPACT Wireless System, a complete, ultra-portable radiography system that can fit inside of a backpack. This system exemplifies a revolution in how TB is diagnosed, allowing a critical medical resource to be brought directly to the patient and their community. Early detection is key to ensuring the best outcomes for patients and stopping the spread. However, clinic location, access to transportation, available electricity and other barriers can stand in the way of preventative diagnostics. A portable X-ray system clears these hurdles to care, allowing for more individuals to be screened and more lives to be saved.

Smashing Stigma

Not only does the IMPACT System increase the imaging capabilities for the region, but it also helps to break down some of the negativity surrounding TB disease. The 64 images used in “Breathe In” were among hundreds captured by the MinXray team in Yola, Nigeria, a remote region with limited healthcare infrastructure. After speaking with many of the community members who had received care, Siniatkina was struck by just how positive the experience had been for them.

Upon reflection, however, this openness made sense to Siniatkina. When she had gone through imaging at the hospital in Moscow, she was usually alone in a cold room full of daunting medical equipment, which left her feeling overwhelmed and intimidated. The experience for people in Yola was completely different, with the unit brought to people who could experience the entirety of diagnostic screening together - as a community and in a familiar setting. Portable X-ray is a friendlier technology, meant to come into a community and strengthen it rather than isolate people from it.

If this fear-free, uniting approach to TB diagnosis and treatment can be adopted more universally, Siniatkina believes it can have a tremendous impact on the global burden caused by the disease. Despite the resources available to stop it, TB remains the deadliest infectious disease on the planet, and the stigma surrounding the disease and those who become infected can be just as devastating as the illness itself. By focusing on the individuals behind the X-rays, as well as our collective responsibility as members of a global community, we can bring humanity back to TB diagnosis and treatment while working together on the broader issues we must tackle to stop it.