ART, awareness and self-care are essential to managing HIV

October 14, 2023 12 Views No Comment

6000 PLHIV on ART in Dimapur, Chümoukedima and Niuland

Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 14

There are approximately 6,000 People Living with HIV (PLHIV) on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) in Dimapur, Chümoukedima and Niuland, informed Dr Hotokha Hesso, Senior Medical Officer of the ART Plus Centre, District Hospital, Dimapur. He added that the ART centre in Dimapur reports around 90 new cases on average every month, while there has been a relative decline in new infections compared to 10-20 years ago. With the introduction of the National AIDS Control Organisation-sponsored ART programme, HIV & AIDS-related fatalities have declined but fatalities attributed to non-AIDS related ailments have increased. Unprotected sex is said to be the major mode of transmission but he noted a rising trend in transmission via intravenous drug use, lately.

Dr Hesso divulged the information to media persons on the sideline of a ‘Treatment Literacy’ seminar on ART at the District Hospital organised by the Network of Naga People Living with HIV and AIDS (NNP+) in collaboration with PND+ Ark Foundation, Vihaan CSC Dimapur and Social Welfare Department on October 13. Treatment literacy encompasses various aspects of health education and awareness related to treatment options, adherence, side effects, and the overall management of a medical condition.

As the resource person at the seminar, he emphasised the management of HIV, which, he added, is manageable with ART. While HIV itself is no longer fatal with ART, he cautioned against complacency. “HIV is not a death sentence, but it’s your responsibility to take care of yourself and your health,” he said and stressed the importance of the patient being vigilant about other health issues.

Unfortunately, he said that there are cases when patients discontinue ART prematurely or does not regularly take the medication as advised. He added that it is crucial to take the medication consistently because it remains effective for 24 hours. A month’s worth of ART medication ranges from Rs 3,000 to Rs 8,000 in the private sector, depending on the patient’s needs.

While stating that neglecting the ART medication should not be an option, he said that the ART drugs in use today are the best available with minimal side effects. To monitor potential side effects from treatment, he said that regular health checks, including but not limited to blood tests should be conducted every six months. Alongwith this, managing psychosocial stress is important to avoid succumbing to social anxiety.

Today, HIV & AIDS-related deaths are rare. However, other conditions such as heart disease, hypertension and diabetes can be life-threatening. “This is why we recommend tests every six months,” he said, while stating that the patients can also become susceptible to “opportunistic infections.”

According to him, keeping a low viral load, staying well hydrated with a minimum daily intake of 3 liters of water, getting adequate sleep of atleast 8 hours and engaging in daily exercise like walking, jogging or cardio exercises at home are essential to maintaining a decent quality of life for people living with HIV. Additionally, quitting smoking and alcohol, as these habits can increase health-related risks and getting viral load tests done at regular intervals.

“You can lead a quality life with ART, but it ultimately depends on individual responsibility, awareness, and self-care,” he reiterated.