ARV's in our lives[swiss].indd - Treatment Action Campaign

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IV In most of our handbooks, pamphlets and posters we use the abbreviation ARVs. It stands for antiretroviral medicines. Combination Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) and Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) refer to taking three or more different types of ARVs. When we talk about ARV treatment in this handbook, this is what we mean. Information about HIV treatment changes very quickly. So only rely on information, whether printed or from the Internet, that is up-to-date. This handbook was finalised in December 2005. How to use this handbook This handbook may be the first information you read about HIV treatment. You may have only just found out that you are HIV positive, so this can be a difficult time for you. Just know that you will find the courage that you need. You may want to read the handbook in one go or come back to read different sections later, but all the information is important. You might decide to use it for education in your support group. Each person can take a section and learn it to present at the next support group meeting. This way we all take responsibility for our learning. You may be already involved in a treatment literacy programme and can use it as a tool for training new advocates. You could also take it home to read on your own or with your family, or discuss with your community groups. Where there are things you do not understand, you can use it to discuss other questions you might have with your health workers. Many of the terms used may be new to you. We include a glossary on pages 86 – 96 that you can refer to for words you do not know. If you understand how the treatment works – and everyone can do this – there is a better chance that you will benefit most from your treatment.
Antiretroviral treatment as part of Government’s HIV/ AIDS Treatment Plan As a person living with HIV, the Comprehensive Plan for the Management, Care and Treatment of HIV/AIDS gives me much hope. I know ARVs do not cure AIDS. I know they are a lifelong treatment to be taken every day and that I still have to do a lot to look after myself. But I am very encouraged by the implementation of this plan. Now I can go back and tell my community there is hope to prevent premature deaths and we must work with our government and our health centres to ensure its implementation and make it succeed. Madenia Adams, Mitchell’s Plain, Western Cape As a nurse who has worked in rural areas and in government clinics and hospitals all my life, I feel vindicated that Cabinet has adopted this plan. I became a nurse because I love making people feel better, to heal. As a healthcare worker you help people and yes, sometimes you can’t keep them alive. But I have never seen so much devastation and death as we have seen as a result of AIDS. Slowly AIDS was eating away my hope in my profession. As nurses we know implementing this plan will mean a lot of work. Especially because we all work in difficult conditions, with little staff and many demands on us, poor conditions and there are many social problems we have to deal with too. In my district we need new health staff to be employed urgently; otherwise even the few who remain will get tired of the pressure and will leave. But this plan gives all of us something concrete to work together on and a chance to rebuild our healthcare system. Sister Nozi Ntuli, MSF nurse, Lusikisiki National Comprehensive Plan for the Management, Care and Treatment Plan for HIV/AIDS On 17 November 2003, the Cabinet of South Africa approved an Operational Plan for Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Care, Management and Treatment. Selected government hospitals in the nine provinces have since started providing ARVs. According to the Plan, 53 000 people were supposed to be treated by March 2004. There would be one site in each health district by end of 2005. It is unfortunate that we have missed some of these key targets. By the end of 2005, less than 100 000 people were receiving treatment in the public sector. The Comprehensive Plan says that about 500 000 people need treatment. Each year that goes by with missed targets means thousands of lives lost. We have to aim to have at least 200 000 people on treatment by the end of 2006. 1
Page 1 and 2: in our lives A handbook for people
Page 3 and 4: in our lives A handbook for people
Page 5 and 6: Contents Note to readers of this ha
Page 7: Note to readers of this handbook He
Page 11 and 12: The Comprehensive Treatment Plan sa
Page 13 and 14: Sometimes I get angry because peopl
Page 15 and 16: Health, illness and our body’s de
Page 17 and 18: If just a small part of the DNA is
Page 19 and 20: When natural barriers fail and germ
Page 21 and 22: Immune system is like the Bafana Ba
Page 23 and 24: Funguses Parasites • Cryptococcus
Page 25 and 26: are perfectly fine and can help us
Page 27 and 28: But this allows the HIV to make man
Page 29 and 30: necessarily using blood tests. This
Page 31 and 32: drinking alcohol, smoking can be ha
Page 33 and 34: experiences and get advice from oth
Page 35 and 36: Eating to maintain health Before do
Page 37 and 38: You especially need more food when
Page 39 and 40: Treatment to stop HIV replication (
Page 41 and 42: Antiretroviral medicines We already
Page 43 and 44: fights back and brings the levels d
Page 45 and 46: But remember, an undetectable viral
Page 47 and 48: We can use the example of dough to
Page 49 and 50: Pipeline drugs: Entry Inhibitors -
Page 51 and 52: ‘We are letting the public know t
Page 53 and 54: What drugs will I start with? As pa
Page 55 and 56: Other things to know about recommen
Page 57 and 58: New non-standard approaches Using t
Page 59 and 60:
Trial results never show a 100% suc
Page 61 and 62:
This means that all services and tr
Page 63 and 64:
Missing one or two doses a week can
Page 65 and 66:
You may be regularly taking them la
Page 67 and 68:
Avoiding resistance is one of the m
Page 69 and 70:
Then if we start to use ARVs and ou
Page 71 and 72:
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a
Page 73 and 74:
another drug if this is possible. A
Page 75 and 76:
Lactic acidosis is a term for a dan
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If you get a very good response to
Page 79 and 80:
Table 1: Serious side effects from
Page 81 and 82:
Resistance doesn’t only happen wi
Page 83 and 84:
Sexual health, family planning and
Page 85 and 86:
If you do want to get pregnant and
Page 87 and 88:
What else do I need to know? Access
Page 89 and 90:
It is time to take risks and do thi
Page 91 and 92:
Getting enough staff for health fac
Page 93 and 94:
In the beginning, when you ask heal
Page 95 and 96:
Antiretroviral therapy (ART): is th
Page 97 and 98:
Directly Observed Treatment Short C
Page 99 and 100:
Immune system: the body’s complic
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or numbness in the toes and fingers
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Symptom: any perceptible, subjectiv
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Key Annexures Table of all register
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99 List of sites per province Numbe
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101 31 Eastern Cape O.R. Tambo Lusi
Page 111 and 112:
103 66 Free State Xhariep District
Page 113 and 114:
105 102 Kwa Zulu Natal Ethekwini DB
Page 115 and 116:
107 144 Kwa Zulu Natal Amajuba DC25
Page 117 and 118:
109 181 Western Cape Metro Region P
Page 119 and 120:
Treatment literacy materials you ca
Page 121 and 122:
113 Useful contacts Office and Mana
Page 124:
Ten things to remember 1. With Trea
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