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Free AIDS treatment reduces bed ridden
patients in hospitals |
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The total of
1,115 patients were enrolled in Antiretroviral
therapy at St. James since the hospital started
the ART corner, Leseling, in 2006. This was said
by Senior nursing Officer at St. James hospital
Sister Ntsiuoa Sello when briefing the Global
Fund Grant Portfolio Manager Mrs. Tatiana
Peterson during her field visit to the Lesotho
Mountanious district on July 30, 2009.
Out of 1,115 ARV patients only 700 are
countinuing taking their regular subscription
to-date while some are on transfer to other
hospitals and other defaulted or died. “Some
patients claim that AIDS treatment makes them
hungry and therefore without enough food they
cannot countinue with treatment,” said Sister
Sello.
For the period of July from 1st to 30th 2009,
there were 37 new patients enrolled on ART at
their clinic. “We provide one month supply for
patients in order to come back and see if they
don’t have any side effects, but if the patients
is travelling long distance we provide two to
three months supplies.”
St. James hospital has never experienced
out-of-stock problem. Approximately they receive
between 15 to 20 AIDS patients per day.
“Thank to the Government for free AIDS
medication policy and the donors that support
these important government initiatives because
to-date there are no more bed ridden patients
like before as many people test their blood and
know their status on time in order to get timely
treatment,” she added.
The Professional Councilor at St. James
mentioned that most people who test for HIV
comes individually and not couples adding that
majority of people who test are women especially
during antenatal clinic while men most come when
are chronically ill and thus decrease their
chance of survival.
He said some people who come for HIV testing and
counseling (HTC) are referred by doctors,
nurses, community health workers. Therefore he
said the number of people who need testing is
high and thus increase the need for more
counselors to cater for all clients.
Sister Matlali Lesenya of Mother and Child
Health (MCH) clinic at St. James indicated that
all pregnant women in their clinic are tested
voluntary for HIV. If found positive both
mothers and babies are given nevirapine to
protect the baby from deadly virus. When the
baby is born, most mothers opt for exclusive
breast feeding for six months because they
cannot afford supplementary feeding due to
poverty.
“However, the hospital realized that most babies
become malnourished immediately after weaning
breast feeding due to lack of proper balance
food at infant stage,” said sister Lesenya.
Nutrition education are now in place to
sensitise mother on proper infant feeding as
well as offer supplementary feeding to
malnourished children when available. |
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