Improved capabilities
BEFORE the Reproductive Health and Wellness Center (RHWC) and Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) became treatment centers for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) patients, Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) was the primary treatment hub for the deadly virus in the region.
Due to the rise of numbers of HIV-diagnosed clients throughout the years, SPMC expanded its network, turning RHWC and DRMC into satellite hubs for HIV treatment in a way to decongest.
In 2015, Lorraine Mata, nurse of Hope and Care Today (HACT) clinic of SPMC, served as an encoder of HACT, a clinic of SPMC committed to issues associated with HIV and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which is also in charge for data manager.
During that year, Mata said an average of 10 patients were added to the record each month.
"Early 2015, 20 to 30 patients ang nagpapa treat regardless of newly diagnosed or nagbalik loob lang. The later part, umaabot na sa 30 to 40 patients each month," Mata said, adding that the numbers has increased to an average 50 to 60 patients undergoing treatment the following year.
"Pero ngayon madalang na lang ang umabot sa 30 patients ang nag papa-treat since nagkaroon kami ng satellite hubs," the officein-charge said.
As a mother hub, SPMC provides all means of services including treatment of the virus, accommodates referral clients for HIV screening from private clinics as well as to aid walk-in patients.
Upon screening, all reactive blood specimen will be sent to SACCL (STD AIDS Central Cooperative Laboratory) for confirmatory testing which is the Western Blot test.
"Yung mga reactive blood specimens, sila yung mas high risk of being diagnosed with the virus. After namin mapadala sa Manila yung blood specimen, yung turn back time is after two to four weeks. Kung ano ang final result na ipapadala nila, yun na
yung official," said Mata, adding that once a blood specimen is non-reactive the hospital could immediately release a print out result.
Once diagnosed, a patient will be endorsed for a check-up to an Infectious Diseases Specialist and will undergo an initial CD4 test, a test to determine how the virus affected the patient's immune system, which is free at SPMC.
Afterwards, the patient must complete the baseline laboratories including x-ray, complete blood count (CBC) platelet, urinalysis, serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) test, creatine blood test, lipid profile, fasting blood sugar, anti-Hepatitis B Surface (HBS), antiHCB, Genexpert test for tuberculosis (TB) and ophthalmologist screening before proceeding to the proper medication.