In 2003, ACET Thailand was invited by the Ministry of Health to commence a home-based care programme for people living with HIV, in Singburi Province, 100 miles north of Bangkok.
ACET Thailand director, Nataya, explains, “We began home visiting, hand in hand with the hospital. They send patients to us so we can take care of them. The patients get their ARVs and consultations from the hospital, everything is free, and the nurse will teach them the importance of taking the meds regularly.”
“When they start ARVs, we will visit them and check they are taking them as per the regime. Some of them are very fearful. We’ll encourage them that it’ll be alright. They’ll get rashes and after a few days they will want to stop taking the meds. But we encourage them that the rashes will stop. The nurse doesn’t have the time or capacity to do this.”
“We spend time with them and talk with them. It is very encouraging. Because it changes lives, they then have hope. Most of the people are older, some of them we have been visiting for 10+ years. They have bad health and no work. Our visits improve their lives. If they have nothing, we pray for it!”
“We bring food as they need necessities – rice, oil, soy sauce, eggs. They need the basics to cook basic meals. They don’t have anything, and they need to have food to be well while taking the ARVs.”
“One young lady who is almost blind because of HIV weighed only 30kg when we met her. She didn’t have a house. We helped her and now she weighs 100kg and has a house and husband, and teaches her family about the grace of God. Next month, we will use her house as a centre, to reach out to the neighbourhood. Building good relationships make it easier to reach out.”
Could you or your employer donate bags of rice, oil and sauces for ACET Thailand’s home care programme? Please get in touch with us at info@acet-uk.com.