Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 11:
Advising against starting earlier ART medication for children living with HIV as far as possible, Paediatrics ART in-charge of JN Hospital Dr Raghumani has pointed out that once started, ART drug has to be given lifelong and ensuring drug adherence among the children is very difficult.
Participating in a seminar organised by Care Foundation at the conference hall Shri Shri Balamukunda Dev Music College, Palace Compound today with the support of Catholic Relief Service, Dr Raghumani noted that family members of the children under ART medication faced a lot of difficulties as they have to ensure administration of the ART drugs on regular basis everyday and taken care of the children from Opportunistic Infections (OIs).
Not being able to maintain drug adherence may lead to drug resistance and other health complications.
So instead of putting them under ART medication at the earliest, it would be helpful to provide them with proper nutritional support, regular health check up and immunisation to prevent them from OIs, he said.
Dr Raghumani further observed that a holistic approach toward treatment and management of HIV/AIDS in the State is required.
Among the gaps and liabilities there is a lack of proper counselling amongst children and their parents.
ART in-charge of JN Hospital and Senior Nurse of JN Hospital L Radharani also spoke as resource persons during the seminar which was organised with the main objective of increasing the treatment efficacy and awareness of antiretroviral treatment among people living with HIV.
Dr Priyokumar advised that ARV should be taken within 12 hours gap everyday in order to get the full benefit of the medicines.
He also cautioned that while starting medication, proper investigation should be done in order to set and identify the right combination of drugs.
Radharani pointed that several individuals of the IDU population are not keeping their medication timings thinking they are getting better.
So the cycle of treatment and relapse into drug use again are repeated time and again amongst several patients on ARV, she added.
A separate session on questions and answers was also facilitated as part of the seminar.
Some of the questions put forth were resistant virus and related signs and symptoms.
The experts explained that resistance to drugs would occur on three aspects, including virological, immunological and clinical and added regular health check up and investigation would help immensely in the ongoing process of managing the HIV/AIDS problem in Manipur.