Wala pa ring lunas para sa HIV, pero nilinaw ng mga eksperto na ang pagkakaroon nito ay hindi isang death sentence.
May ART treatment na kasi na maaaring gawing undetectable ang virus sa katawan.
For this episode of our series on #HIVAwareness, let’s discuss what to do if you test positive for HIV to help you regain a healthy life! #EndTheStigma
May ART treatment na kasi na maaaring gawing undetectable ang virus sa katawan.
For this episode of our series on #HIVAwareness, let’s discuss what to do if you test positive for HIV to help you regain a healthy life! #EndTheStigma
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NewsTranscript
00:00Unlike the 1980s, HIV is no longer a death sentence.
00:05Because now, testing and treatment are more advanced.
00:10But what should you do if you are HIV positive?
00:15I am Dano Tenggungko, and here's what you need to know.
00:23Okay, so first things first, there is no cure for HIV.
00:27But with proper, consistent medication and a healthy lifestyle,
00:31a person's viral load can be undetectable within an average of six months.
00:37This means that it is not contagious to anyone.
00:43Anti-retroviral therapy, or ART, is what experts consider to be the best way to manage HIV.
00:51We can't remove HIV from a person's body, but we can put them to sleep.
00:56When you just take this medication every day, it's able to suppress the HIV virus in a person's body
01:02so that it no longer wreaks havoc in their body and no longer causes them harm.
01:07With the help of ART, any possible HIV progress in AIDS can be prevented,
01:14which can lead to death.
01:16That's why early detection is important.
01:18If you are undetectable, you won't progress into advanced HIV or AIDS
01:23because the virus has already contaminated your body.
01:26So you are walking around more or less like a healthy, normal, average human person.
01:37Usually, when I have a patient who comes to me,
01:40and it's the first time that they react to an HIV test,
01:44we have to get a baseline monitoring.
01:46We have to get the current status of their body.
01:50The most important tests that we get are the viral load and the CD4 count.
01:58Doctors get the viral load of a patient to see how much virus is in their body.
02:06So we know how many enemies we need to kill.
02:13CD4 is a measure of immune status.
02:18This means that doctors are looking at how healthy a patient is.
02:25Is their immune system weak or strong?
02:29And depending on that, an HIV doctor is knowledgeable
02:34to know what we need to give you.
02:37Friendly reminder, ART should be taken every day and never stopped
02:43even if your viral load is undetectable.
02:47Aside from the ARVs or ARTs, we also include prophylactic treatments.
02:53We give medicines to combat TB.
02:58We give medicines to combat pneumonia.
03:02Because we know that the immune status of a PLHIV is weak,
03:07we already prepared.
03:08We are already giving your body a fight
03:12so that you won't get OI or opportunistic infections.
03:16Opportunistic infections are infections that affect a person
03:21who is already immunocompromised.
03:24And that's what we don't want to happen to our PLHIV patients.
03:29So Mars, if you are afraid of expenses,
03:32the government facilities in the country are free to test you.
03:36ARVs and antiretroviral medicines are also free
03:40in AIDS and HIV treatment hubs.
03:42And other expenses, like laboratory tests,
03:45can be covered by PhilHealth.
03:47Treatment of HIV is completely free in the Philippines.
03:52It is answered by PhilHealth.
03:55There is this thing called the OHAT package
03:58that should cover all the expected costs of an HIV-infected individual.
04:04Our advice is really for them to get signed up with a treatment hub.
04:08Of course, you need to fill up the questionnaires,
04:12but there are multiple layers of protection
04:16for the identity of PLHIV.
04:19UIC uses HIV treatment hubs
04:23so that the patient's name won't appear in their documents.
04:29And for those who don't have access to PhilHealth,
04:32don't worry because some institutions have already rescued them.
04:36Love Yourself offers treatment for free.
04:39Unfortunately, since we have 14,000 clients
04:43and not everybody is able to access PhilHealth,
04:47for example, in our case,
04:49only 4,000, 5,000, or 10,000 are eligible for reimbursement.
04:54So the 5,000, 6,000 covers for the 14,000.
04:58So sometimes it's hard for us to absorb everything.
05:04So where do and where can we access support?
05:07So number one, we have our charitable institutions.
05:11We have PCSO.
05:14We have LGUs that support the needs of our people living with HIV.
05:20We have social welfare offices.
05:24Based on the guidelines of the Insurance Commission,
05:27an HMO or health maintenance organization
05:31is responsible for the health of persons living with HIV.
05:34If the patient follows the right medical treatment,
05:38if the patient has a favorable risk profile,
05:40and if the patient's medical examinations
05:44required by insurance companies
05:46are within the normal limits.
05:48The guidelines cover individuals
05:51with actual, perceived, or suspected HIV-positive status.
05:57Also based on the guidelines,
05:59individuals who are diagnosed with HIV
06:02can be postponed by an insurance company
06:05to issue life insurance to an individual for a year
06:09from the start of antiretroviral treatment
06:13to evaluate the compliance of the patient
06:16and the effectiveness of the treatment.
06:19But even if there is free treatment,
06:21there are still some who back out
06:24because of the fear of stigma and discrimination
06:27against HIV-positive people.
06:29Hey, don't worry.
06:31You are more important than what others say.
06:34What people who are infected with HIV usually ask is,
06:38What will my family say?
06:40What will my friends say?
06:42Can I work?
06:45Will other people know about this?
06:48At Love Yourself, we have a life coaching program
06:52for people living with HIV.
06:54As soon as you enroll in our treatment program,
06:57you are partnered with a life coach.
06:59This life coach will be with you
07:01within the next six months of your journey.
07:06It's very important that your goal in life
07:10after diagnosis is for you to empower yourself.
07:14You claim the empowerment.
07:16You claim your self-worth.
07:18There are organizations all over the Philippines
07:21that help people living with HIV
07:24such as Red Ribbon, PAFTI, or Pinoy Plus.
07:30These are support groups
07:32of non-government organizations
07:34and community-based organizations
07:36that you can contact.
07:38If your family, friends, or loved ones
07:42are HIV-positive,
07:44and you are negative,
07:46what can you do to help them?
07:48First,
07:50be a safe space for them.
07:53It's hard to talk to people
07:55who are already prejudiced about HIV.
07:58It's very important that before,
08:00and while talking to a person living with HIV,
08:02it's important that you know
08:04the concept that surrounds it.
08:06You educate yourself about HIV
08:08to provide informed support
08:10to our friends living with HIV.
08:15Believe that a healthy and happy life
08:17is within reach
08:19for everyone,
08:21including PLHIV or persons living with HIV.
08:25The most important thing is
08:29to know your status.
08:31Am I right?