The Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) Treatment Hub has assured continues service for People Living with Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (PLHIV) in region 9 and Basulta (Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi) despite the pandemic Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19)
ZCMC Treatment hub data showed that 443 PLHIV are now being taken cared of by the ZCMC Treatment Hub from January 2020 to July 2021. This also include transient patients.
All of these patients are under treatment with anti-retroviral drugs for Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV).
Before these patients are being registered in the Treatment Hub, they are being counselled and tested. During the testing, blood sample will be taken from the patient either finger prick or blood extraction and the result will come out after 20 minutes.
If the result comes out reactive or positive, the sample will be sent to STD AIDS Cooperative Center Laboratory at San Lazaro Hospital for confirmatory testing. Treatment will be started immediately as prescribed by doctor.
For those under anti-retroviral drugs, they are also being counselled to take their medications regularly.
These ARV for HIV patients comes from Department of Health Manila. DOH Manila ships the medicine to the different treatment hubs and the treatment hubs gives the medicine to the patients.
“Region 9 has other treatment hub from Zamboanga Del Norte and Zamboanga Del Sur, we still cater clients who prefers to have their treatment at ZCMC Treatment Hub.” According to the hospital’s treatment hub.
During pandemic they also catered to transient PLHIV’s of other hub who got stranded in Zamboanga City during pandemic.
They admitted that there are difficulties during pandemic, however, they were able to adopt mechanisms coordinating with partners, stakeholders, and other hospitals to make it easier for the patients to get their medicines. (R.G. Antonet A. Go)