Tulungagung, East Java (ANTARA) – Hospital management dr. Iskak Tulungagung, East Java, continues to optimize the role of 11 assistants to help PLWHA access antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) at Poli Seruni, a special services clinic for HIV / AIDS patients visiting and seeking hospital care .
“These assistants began to be provided when the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread in early 2020. Now in line with the need and also for the sake of effectiveness, their role is further optimized,” the leader said. of the Seruni Poly Room of RSUD Dr. Iskak, Ina Imawati in Tulungagung, Monday.
Assistants who are scattered in different sub-districts will always be waiting to take ARV drugs in RSUD dr. Iskak then sent him directly to PLWHA’s home.
Services similar to the “home care” program are provided to provide comfort to the PLWHA while minimizing the risk of transmission.
“We hope this ARV drug delivery home visit service will further expand the interest of other PLWHAs to perform VCT at the Seruni Polyclinic and perform routine treatments,” continued Ina.
The eleven official assistants are partly RSUD officers dr. Iskak, some of them survived seconded from the AIDS Eradication Commission (KPA) and the rest come from other volunteer groups.
Collaboration across sectors is implemented to make it easier for agents to reach people living with HIV who have not received ARV treatment.
During COVID-19, assistant officers really help PLWHA reduce the risk of exposure due to high mobility.
“We started this service before there was a pandemic, but now it is getting more intense because many PLWHAs are using the service,” he added.
Currently, of the 600 people living with HIV who routinely undergo ARV treatment, about 70 to 80 percent are in good condition and stable. For taking ARV, it is regularly scheduled once a month.
ARV drugs given to people living with HIV are a type of drug that can be used to slow the progression of the HIV virus.
The way it works is to remove the elements necessary for the HIV virus to multiply and prevent the HIV virus from destroying CD4 cells.
While taking these ARV drugs, the doctor will monitor the number of viruses and CD4 cells to assess the patient’s response to treatment.
CD4 cell counts will be done every 3-6 months. While HIV RNA testing was done from the start of treatment, it continued every 3-4 months during the treatment period.
Although HIV cannot be cured, taking ARV on a routine basis helps maintain the quality of life of people living with HIV.
That is why patients should take ARVs immediately as soon as they are diagnosed with HIV, particularly in order to be able to control the development of the HIV virus.
