Over 23,000 get healing touch of anti-retroviral therapy in Vijayawada

The Vijayawada city is significantly witnessing an increase in the number of registrations for HIV care programmes at Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) centres. Children aged below 14 years are also seen

VIJAYAWADA: The Vijayawada city is significantly witnessing an increase in the number of registrations for HIV care programmes at Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) centres. Children aged below 14 years are also seen affected with HIV and seeking treatment from the ART centre in the city.

As awareness among the public increased over the years, the patients are leading a successful and extended life with the HIV. However, the stigma continues to haunt the affected ones in the society.
Preethi (name changed), 13, studying in class VIII at a government school and HIV-positive, is under the ART medication from the age of 8 years. She was left with an NGO at the age of five after her extended family members got her diagnosed with HIV.

“I know I am not a normal child like others. In fact, I’m special. Even though my family abandoned me, I do think of them and want to make it big in career to prove my courage and success,” beams Preethi, sporting a bright smile and brimming with confidence.

Similarly, there are many other children who got affected with HIV, but are still pursuing their dreams and excelling in their academics. Almost 734 cases (kids) have been registered in Krishna district under the category of child HIV of which over 600 cases are from Vijayawada city and rural areas. Over 98 per cent of the victims acquired the virus by birth from their HIV-affected parents.

The ART centre in Vijayawada was opened in September 2006 with 24 people and by 2016, the number increased to 23,764. More than 11,000 people, who are under active medication, are undergoing first-line of HIV care treatment here. Over 1,638 are going through the second-line treatment and also under serious medication. Clinical failure (develop symptoms), immunological failure (drop in CD4 count) and treatment failure (no relief from secondary infection) are the indications for changing the drug regimen from first-line to second-line.

Under the treatment process, every patient must have at least one visit a month to the ART centre and take the prescribed medication, which would last up to a month. For many, making a monthly visit to the centre to collect medicine is a formidable task. As the medication is expensive, they will have to come to the GGH every month to take it for free. The medication keeps them healthy and protects them from succumbing to infections.

Swapna (name changed) hopes to finish the SSC examinations with a distinction. She came to Dr. NTR Government General Hospital ART centre to pick up her monthly quota of medication. Over the years, her immunity has grown and her CD4 count is good. This does not mean she is cured of the virus. She has to continue to keep checking the CD4 count every six months, for the rest of her life.

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