Floral Okon's experience of being diagnosed with HIV before her wedding highlights the importance of HIV testing and access to care. The implementation of Differentiated Service Delivery for HIV Treatment (DSD ART) in Nigeria has simplified and improved HIV services, reducing the burden on health facilities. The client-centered approach offers tailored care to people living with HIV, making it easier for them to access treatment and live healthy lives.
Abuja, 7 August, 2023 - Before her wedding plans in 2009, Floral Okon was unaware of what Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) was. Hence as part of the church pre-wedding requirements, she gladly went with her fiancé for an HIV test in a health facility.
"As part of the pre-wedding requirement in my church, my fiancé and I were required to conduct HIV screening.
I recall exclaiming wonderful when told at the health facility that my result was positive because I thought positive was a good result," she recounted.
An unfortunate fallout of her HIV-positive status was that Flora could not go ahead with her wedding as planned, because her fiancé who turned out negative called it off.
On the bright side, Flora has since been on anti-retroviral drugs. With suppressed viral load (undetectable HIV Virus), Flora is now married and with HIV-negative children.
HIV is a virus that attacks the body's immune system and if not treated, can lead to AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). Once people get HIV, they have it for life. But with proper medical care, HIV can be controlled.
Mrs Okon, a volunteer at a health clinic, recalled that at the initial stage, taking time off work to get to the health facility for medical care and to pick up her drugs was cumbersome, but thanks to the government-introduced Differentiated Service Delivery for HIV Treatment (DSD ART), access to HIV care has become much easier.
"I am enrolled in a facility-based DSD ART. The model is a perfect place for me to receive care as services are provided specifically to my needs and I see the doctor once in six months and pick up drugs as prescribed.
Nigeria adopted the DSD policy in 2019 and with the collaboration of all stakeholders; PEPFAR, Global Fund, Network of people living with HIV...
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Source of content: OOO News 2023-08-07 News
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