DOTI, Sept 24: It was physically and financially impossible for Laxmi Bhul, a bed-ridden HIV patient at Paitala,Toleni VDC-2 to travel for 12 hours on foot to the district hospital for the treatment of boils all over her body.
Bhul has benefitted greatly after the Community Development Forum, in coordination with the District Health Office Doti, began providing medical treatment to patients at their own residences. She is happy to be receiving treatment at home.
Health workers have been visiting the community to povide medical treatment and offer suggestions to HIV patients like Bhul, who lack access to a hospital or health post.
“I used to think that there was no one to help us. But they arrived at our homes to take care of us,” said HIV-infected Chandra BK of Dauda Sayal. BK´s husband died of AIDS three years ago. She thinks her condition is also deteriorating, due to lack of adequate nutrition.
Faced with various diseases after her HIV infection worsened, Tuli Malla of Panchanali VDC-4 was losing heart and had remained immobile for over a month at home. “I could not move out of the house for over a month. After the health workers arrived for my treatment, I have felt much better.” said Malla. “Patients like us have benefitted greatly after doctors began to visit the patients´ own homes for their regular treatment,” she added.
The Community Development Forum started its community and household-based campaign with the aim of helping the HIV-infected in the district. According to coordinator of the programme Dil Bahadur Singh, doctors and health workers visit the community and individual households to provide consultations and treatment to the HIV-affected.
“It has been a great help to patients who cannot turn up at the hospital due to various reasons”, said Singh.
According to Dr Sandip Shrestha, who is working in anti-retroviral therapy (ART) at Doti hospital, the program has proved to be a boon to patients who lack access to health centers. “After the start of the program, the situation of HIV-affected people in the district has improved greatly,” Shrestha said.
Durga BK, an HIV patient of Daud-2, expressed happiness after getting the home-delivery medical service. “It is really a matter of pleasure for us, who are subject to social stigma, to receive treatment right at home,” said BK. There are 888 HIV patients in the district receiving the home treatment at present.
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