the goan I network
PANAJI
Hit hard to access health services amid strict lockdown rules, Goa’s HIV+ and chronic patients with critical conditions found some solace with ARVs getting delivered at their homes.
A volunteer force of the Human Touch Foundation (HTF) went about delivering the ARVs to people living with HIV at their respective homes.
In the last two-three days, over two dozen such individuals were delivered ARVs at their residences by the HTF’s volunteer team.
The volunteers were issued travel permits by the District Magistrates of both North Goa and South Goa, besides the ART Centre at the Goa Medical College, Bambolilm.
Others, living with HIV and who are on permanent treatment but not registered with HTF, meanwhile, can contact their respective ART centres (Goa Medical College, Bambolim “ 0832-2458708/ 09, Hospicio Hospital “ 0832- 2703801, North Goa District Hospital “ 0832- 2265119/ 2262372, Subdistrict Hospital, Ponda “ 0832- 2312116/ 2312115 and Sub-district Hospital, Chicalim 0832- 2540864/ 2540472) and give their consent, if they so wish that their ARVs be delivered at their locations.
Peter Borges of HTF said, alternatively any one of their volunteers may be reached directly via call or WhatsApp: Celina @ 9665321969, Basavaraj @ 9960818587, Venicia @ 9764682505 and Peter @ 9923700342.
According to Borges, several people living with HIV pick up their monthly anti-retroviral therapy (ART) drugs provided free of cost to patients registered with government hospitals.
However, during the lockdown since most of them are overwhelmingly poor and rely on free State-run transport, his organisation set up the volunteer team to collect these drugs and deliver them at their homes.
ART drugs are HIV-suppressing medicines and need to be taken throughout their lives by people living with HIV.
Borges, who founded HTF, said their volunteer team has also supplied groceries to regular beneficiaries living with HIV who are registered with the organisation.
HTF also helps rehabilitate people living with HIV and hand-holds them gain suitable livelihoods.
