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Chapter 16
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Everything Is Tuberculosis, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Science and Injustice
History’s Influence on the Modern Day
Family and Community
Stigmatization and Dehumanization
Nuance, Empathy, and Understanding
Summary
Analysis
Despite his limited options, Dr. Girum was insistent on finding effective treatment for Henry’s TB. He reached out to the Sierra Leonean government to make the case that Henry needed a specially tailored drug regiment to recover. Even so, Henry’s father, who still believed prayer would be more effective than medicine, grew impatient and furious with Dr. Girum. Henry’s father came to Dr. Girum and angrily insisted that, since three drug regimens had now failed, Henry should be allowed to die at home. Henry himself continued to feel despondent about his condition and didn’t know whether he should trust his father or Dr. Girum. Despite Henry’s father’s threats, Dr. Girum developed a potential specialized treatment plan for Henry, and when Henry’s father came to take Henry out of the hospital, Dr. Girum (along with Henry) insisted that he stayed.
Henry’s father’s distrust of the Sierra Leonean healthcare system is once again made abundantly clear in his insistence that Henry return home after so many failed treatments. His justification for bringing Henry home also reveals how he prioritizes family and community; though he’s an inconsistent presence in Henry’s life, he believes that he should die in the comfort of his home and surrounded by his remaining family. Dr. Girum’s insistence on continuing to treat Henry shows the potential of any healthcare system to properly treat its patients; if medical professionals are dedicated enough to their patients and are willing to fight against unjust systems, humanity can make progress towards properly treating anyone suffering from medical ailments.
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