JP\/4\/AIDS<\/p>\n
Road map to improved access to HIV\/AIDS therapy in
\npoor countries<\/p>\n
Debbie A. Lubis
\nContributor
\nYogyakarta<\/p>\n
Life seems quite unfair for Yanti (quoted with her permission).
\nAfter surrendering her husband to AIDS last year, the mother of
\ntwo children has to go on with her battle to fight HIV in her own
\nand her second son's bodies.<\/p>\n
Worst still, she lost her job because her colleagues were
\nterrified of being infected by the deadly virus. The company
\nactually was willing to cover her ARV treatment costs.
\nUnfortunately, she is no longer able to afford antiretroviral
\n(ARV) therapy for her and her 2.5 years old son.<\/p>\n
ARV treatment has been proven effective in reducing the viral
\nload until undetectable so that people living with HIV\/AIDS
\n(PLWHA) can lead a more productive life and mortality and
\nmorbidity caused by opportunistic infectious diseases among them
\ncan be reduced.<\/p>\n
At present, a monthly package of imported, generic version ARV
\ncocktails in Indonesia is worth Rp 650,000 (US$76) while patented
\nARV drugs cost ten times higher.<\/p>\n
"My physical condition is deteriorating. My weight has dropped
\ndrastically to 37 kg from 55 kg previously. Actually, ARV helps
\nus so much. I went up to 50 kg within five months of taking the
\nmiracle cocktails while my son went up to 13 kg from eight kilos
\nbefore. He returned to being a cheerful boy
\nagain," Yanti said.<\/p>\n
Rinaldy (not his real name) is also in a dire need of
\naffordable ARV cocktails. His father abandoned the family as soon
\nas he found out that his son was infected by the virus. Rinaldy
\nwas confined to bed for one year due to heart and lung disorders<\/p>\n
"Maybe it's because of the drugs I abused," he said,
\ndisclosing that he used to share needles with other injecting
\ndrug users (IDUs) for five years.<\/p>\n
"My salary is just enough for our daily needs but I must
\nsupport and take care of my son. He is still young," he said. His
\nmother collects money from her extended family to purchase the
\nARV drugs.<\/p>\n
Yanti and Rinaldy feel lucky because they can get free or
\nsubsidized ARV treatment from a number of NGOs in Jakarta. But,
\nout of 130,000 PLWHA who are in a dire of need of ARV treatment
\nin the country, only 1,000 have access to the drugs they need.<\/p>\n
The problem of access to ARV treatment is not unique to
\nIndonesia. It is experienced by many developing countries in the
\nworld. Therefore, representatives from around 16 countries are
\nscheduled to attend the Yogyakarta round-table meeting (JRM) from
\nSept. 1 through Sept. 4, to renew the spirit of a similar meeting
\nin Canberra last year. The last meeting formulated a strategic
\nframework for improving access to HIV\/AIDS therapy in poor
\nresources settings. The meeting will have delegates from the
\nASEAN countries, America, Cuba, Japan, Australia, France and
\nIndia.<\/p>\n
"The World Health Organization expects that by 2005, an
\nestimated 600,000 PLWHA in the Asia Pacific region will have
\nimproved access to HIV\/AIDS treatment. After one year from the
\nfirst meeting, there must be many accomplishments and obstacles
\nin achieving the targets that the participants can share," said
\nDr Samsuridjal Djauzi, coordinator of Access to Therapy and
\nDiagnosis at the Working Group on AIDS at the University of
\nIndonesia in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
In Indonesia alone, the National Movement on Improved Access
\nto HIV\/AIDS Therapy (GN-MATHA) has targeted around 2,000 people
\nwith HIV\/AIDS this year.<\/p>\n
PLWHA, academicians, experts, government officials,
\nrepresentatives of international agencies, NGO activists, and
\njournalists will actively take part in thematic lectures under
\nmain theme of From International Collaboration towards National
\nSelf-Reliance and the Role of Media in Combating HIV\/AIDS.<\/p>\n
Samsuridjal, who is also the initiator of JRM, said that the
\nissue of self-reliance was included in a bid to reduce the
\nreliance of poor countries on foreign aid and the developed
\ncountries in accessing ARV therapy. The press's role would also
\nbe significant in disseminating information on the therapy.<\/p>\n
"We will also build up networks among the participants here
\nbecause it is high time for developing countries to fight for
\ntheir citizens's rights to health given the fact that there are
\nmany barriers imposed by the WTO and TRIPs," he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp4aids-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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