Email 173: Concerned About Free ARV's

Dear Pozziepinoy, 

Una po sa lahat ay nagpapasalamat po ako syo dahil madami po kyong natutulungan dahil sa blog site nyo at isa na po ako dun.

Last month ko lang po nalaman na positive po ako. Halos tatlong linggo po ako n nadipress at gabi gabi umiiyak. Pero sa tulong ng paglapit ko kay Lord, pagdarasal at pag punta kay Padre Pio, sa aking best friend at ng blog site nyo ay unti unting nkakaita ako ng liwanag at gumagaan ang pakiramdam ko. Last week pumunta po ako sa RITM ARG at tama po kayo na napakabait at maasikaso sila. Malayo po ang RITM ARG from my place pero pinili ko n doon magpaCD4 dahil na din sa pagbabasa ko ng blog site mo. 396 po ang CD4 ko at inadvise n ng doctor na nasasaakin kung magtake nko ng ARV o hndi. Hindi p po ako nkakadesisyon. Pero sasabihan ko si Doc kapagnakadesisyon nko.

Pozziepinoy, nababahala po ako kahit alam ko n libre ang ARV. Narinig ko kasi sa mga kapwa ko na positive doon sa RITM ARG na baka hindi na maging libre ang gamot sa mga darating na buwan o taon. Nabasa ko sa iyong blog site yung letter ng Global Fund, nkakahiya mang sabihin pero hindo ko masyadong nagets. Meron po bang tagalog version? Para po sana maunawaan ko ng malinaw kasi po nababahala ako.

Sana po ay mabasa mo ang email ko. Merry Xmas at pagpalain ka ng panginoon.

XXX

Translation:

First of all, I would like to thank you because you are helping a lot because of your blog site and I am one of them.

Last month, I foud out that I am positive. I’ve been depressed for almost 3 weeks and every night i have been crying. But with my renewed vows to the Lord, my prayers and my frequest visits to Padre Pio, my best friend and your blog site, I slowly saw hope and lightened up my heart. Last week I went to RITM-ARG and you are right when you said that they are kind at accommodating. RITM-ARG was far from my place but I chose it to have my CD4 test because I read your blog. My CD4 was 396 and I was advised by the doctor that it is up to me if I would start taking ARV’s. I haven’t made my decision yet but I will surely tell my doctor when I am ready.

Pozziepinoy, I am concerned even though I know that the ARV’s are free. I heard from my fellow PLHIV’s there that the ARV’s won’t be free anymore in the following months or years. I read in your blog site the letter of the Global Fund, and I am embarrassed to say that I didn’t get it. Do you have  a Tagalog version so I can understand it more clearly because I am deeply concerned?

I wish you can read my email.

Merry Christmas and may God bless you.

XXX

POZZIEPINOY’S RESPONSE

Hi XXX.

Thank you for your email. I am grateful that somehow, you are getting strength and peace of mind in my blog entries.

Up to now, there is still commotion on whether ARV's will be continued to be given for free in the country. I have heard about it a year ago that is the reason why I wrote a letter to the Global Fund since they are subsidizing our ARV's in the Philippines. In My Letter to the Global Fund I asked about this concern and good thing the foundation replied back. It reiterated that GF won't stop its funding for our ARV's and for years it will have a transition program then will once again provide full funding to the programs on HIV/AIDS. Also, don't worry about it because our government has a back up plan ready through PhilHeath in case something drastic will happen. This was confirmed by my doctor, Dr. Ditangco, the head of RITM-ARG.

For now, worrying wont do you good. Focus on what you can control. You are lucky because even though your CD4 is 396 (the cutoff is 350 for ARV prescription), you are given the choice to take the ARV's. If I were you I would grab that chance and take it now so your immune system can recover fast.

I hope I was able to answer your concerns. Feel free to email me again if you have other questions.

Stay healthy,

Pozziepinoy

"WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

NO PLHIV is alone with his or her struggle with HIV!"

-Pozziepinoy-

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Tags: HIV Manila, HIV Philippines, AIDS Manila, AIDS Philippines, HIV/AIDS Manila, HIV/AIDS Philippines