As most people realize, AIDS is a huge problem in Africa. At first I didn't think it was that big a problem here but as it turns out that's just because people don't want to know, don't get tested, and if they are seropositive everyone hushes it up because to them its a death sentence and the health care workers feel like there's nothing to do either.
I felt the same way at first because all I saw were advanced cases who ended up dying.
Now I've started to identify and work with a group who I've tested because of various risk factors or exam findings (or often when they come with a kid at the end stage then I identify the parent as HIV +) This group is healthy and I've discovered that there are things we can do.
1. We can educate to prevent transmission (fidelity, if there are several wives and some are negatif...condoms, etc)
2. We can treat pregnant mothers to prevent transmission to the newborn (if we have the medicines which we hope to soon...transmission can also be reduced by elective c-section) We are trying to start a program to test pregnant women for HIV (very rarely done here)
3. We can see them at regularly scheduled monthly visits for routine physical exams and lab tests to identify and treat infections early
4. We can identify and treat Tuberculosis or give primary prevention with Isoniazid
5. We can provide emotional and psychological support...especially if they end up abandoned by their families (as unfortunately happens only too often)
And, if we can identify a group that is trustworthy and comes to regularly scheduled visits and is reliable we could hopefully start some of them on Anti-retroviral therapy (anti-HIV meds) if we could find some donors or if the government comes around to decreasing the cost.
We have somehow found a little hope on this dark continent that is at the point of an epidemic. Pray for us and if you can in anyway give us other suggestions or help in any way...
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