Synergy Required to Assist ADHA

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Providing medical treatments and services alone will not be enough to help children with HIV/AIDS maintain their health. Guidance is also necessary.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Medical treatment for children with HIV/AIDS (ADHA) must be accompanied with psychosocial support and a supportive environment. A synergy between the central and local governments alongside the public is required to support optimal development of ADHA.

Health Minister Nila Moeloek said that the government strived to improve ADHA’s access to medical services. Pediatric antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, comprising syrup and powder, is available. Previously, ADHA are given ARV pills with the dosage adjusted to their weight.

ARV is used in therapy to suppress the growth of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The drug can work optimally if consumed daily at the right dosage. Persons diagnosed with HIV, including children, must take ARV drugs for life.

“Access to the medicine is improved,” said Nila last week.

Health Ministry record shows that the total number of reported HIV infections as of June 2018 was 301,959 cases. Of this figure, 2,881 are ADHA.

In 2019, the ministry earmarked Rp 2.5 trillion (US$179.28 million) for HIV/AIDS treatment. Of this amount, around Rp 1.1 trillion is for procuring medicine.

The ministry also strives to expand healthcare access and facilities for HIV/AIDS treatment. Some 7,093 community health centers (Puskesmas) currently offering HIV testing will be boosted with treatment services. As of 2018, only 993 puskesmas and hospitals provided ARV treatment services nationwide.

Protection

All-Humanitarian Action Association (Kuldesak) chairman Hages Budiman said that government support in providing health services and medicines for people with HIV/AIDS (ODHA) had improved. Complaints of lacking drug stock and difficulty in accessing health check services have long gone. However, obstacles persist in drug procurement in several regions.

Separately, social activist Baby Jim Aditya, known for her outspoken support for people with HIV/AIDS and recovering drug addicts, said that ADHA should receive comprehensive treatment. “They have complex needs, comprising not only medicine but also nutritional intake, health services, education, psychosocial support and proper guidance and nurturing,” she said on Monday (22/7/2019).

Regional governments’ active role is also necessary in treating ADHA. The government’s commitment and support in allocating budget for ADHA determines the success in treating ADHA.

Surabaya mayor Tri Rismaharini, for instance, issued Surabaya Mayor’s Regulation No. 29/2015 on HIV/AIDS mitigation. It stipulates that ODHA are given several special treatments to improve their quality of life. Productive-age ODHA are recruited as casual workers and given proper living space. Apart from providing Rp 1 million of monthly aid, ADHA are given access to education and capacity building in the Kalijudan Children’s Village.

In Papua, lacking local budget has affected ODHA treatment campaign. Papua Health Agency’s AIDS, TBC and Malaria section head Beri Wopari said that the agency had only Rp 190 million for HIV/AIDS campaign and distributing ARV drugs to all of Papua this year. This will not be enough to serve the province’s 40,805 ODHA.

Health service for ADHA was among the highlighted issues in the International AIDS Society’ (IAS) Conference on HIV Science in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sunday (21/7) evening. Kompas reporter Adhitya Ramadhan reported from Mexico City that, of the target of providing access to ARV therapy to 1.6 million children in 2018, only 940,000 children under 14 years old are reached. More intensive effort is required to expand services for ADHA. (TAN/RWN/NSA/ETA/FLO/COK/RTG)

Editor:

kompascetak hiv/aids children with hiv/aids