Mutare Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) Clinic (Treatment and Care Program)
With funding from USAID through PSI, Mutare ART Clinic continued providing services in 2016 with an ultimate goal of preventing mortality and morbidity targeting key populations (KPs) in Mutare urban and Chipinge districts. Key populations who were reached included transactional sex workers. FACT managed to work towards helping adolescent girls and young women to be Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS free, Mentored and be Safe women (DREAMS) through provision of services already cited. The graph below shows achievement versus target on the number of key populations initiated on ART from June to December 2016.
Under the DREAMS initiative which started end of June 2016, Mutare ART clinic managed to initiate clients on ART and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. The graphs below shows how the Mutare ART Clinic progressed towards reaching set targets.
Objectives of the ART program
• To prevent new HIV infections.
• To reduce the risk of HIV progression.
• To monitor patients and suppress viral load.
Problem
Client Dorothy (not real name) reported to the clinic in a critical condition exhibiting possible signs and symptoms of advanced Cryptococcal meningitis. Cryptococcal meningitis is a serious condition that is characterized by inflammation of the meninges (membranes that covers the brain and spinal cord). The patient also presented with Deep vein thrombosis. DVT which occurs when a blood clot (thrombus) forms in one or more of a person’s deep veins in the body, usually in the legs. This is a serious condition which can be fatal because blood clots in the veins can break loose, travel through the bloodstream and lodge in the lungs, blocking blood flow (pulmonary embolism) and causes death.
Intervention
The patient’s condition went thorough investigations in order to come up with a correct diagnosis and management. The correct medical management was rendered. She was also referred to Mutare provincial government hospital for admission and close monitoring. There was intensified collaboration between the provincial hospital medical staff and the Mutare ART clinic staff in the management of the patient.
Results
The patient’s condition improved gradually, an indication that she was responding well to the prescribed medication. The patient is now virally suppressed and she verbalizes that she is now feeling better.
Evidence
Serum Crag [blood test done to exclude Cryptococci (bacteria that causes Cryptococcal meningitis)] results were positive, an indication that there was a possibility that the patient could be having Cryptococcal meningitis. Lumbar puncture (a medical procedure where cerebrospinal fluid is drawn from the spinal cord for examination) results confirmed that the patient had Cryptococcal meningitis.