Doctors of children with HIV

(Baonghean) - They are not only doctors, but also relatives and friends, sharing and sympathizing with the joys and sorrows of sick children and their families. That devotion has kindled hope for sick children infected with the "disease of the century".

The clinic for treating children infected and exposed to HIV/AIDS at the Tropical Department, Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital has been in operation for more than 8 years. For many nurses, doctors and nurses working at the clinic, the time they have been in contact with people infected with HIV/AIDS may be even longer.

Like Dr. Nguyen Van Son - Head of the Tropical Medicine Department, he has over 10 years of experience working with HIV/AIDS patients and is now the main person in charge of examination and treatment here. Dr. Son shared: "The most difficult thing is to advise and encourage the patient's family when they first learn that their child or grandchild is infected with HIV. They are shocked, so some do not cooperate with the doctor in treating the disease.

Understanding that mentality, we are very interested in encouraging and advising the family members that ARV treatment is to prolong life. From my own experience, I see that medical staff must be persistent and patient to convince the patient's family members."

Dr. Nguyen Van Son - Head of Tropical Department, Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, consults a patient's family. Photo: Thu Hien

Caring for and treating children with HIV/AIDS is very difficult, so the doctors and nurses here have sympathy and understanding of the patients' feelings. In the clinic, there is no contempt or discrimination, but instead love and responsibility, standing side by side with the patients, helping them fight the disease, prevent opportunistic infections, and prolong life for as long as possible.

The sincerity of doctors and nurses is a great source of encouragement for patients, helping them to maintain their faith. Mr. LVH - father of LVS (3 years old) in Vinh City shared: “When we first learned that our child was infected with HIV, my wife and I felt like we were struck by lightning, wanting to give up, everything was over. Coming to the HIV clinic and treatment here, the doctors and nurses gave us very dedicated advice, regularly reminding us to give our child the right dose of medicine at the right time, explaining to us the benefits of complying with treatment. After nearly 2 years of treatment, my child's health has stabilized and he is studying with his friends, my family is very happy.”

Similarly, the heartfelt letter of Ms. NTH when bringing her child for HIV treatment, written to Dr. Nguyen Van Son - Head of the Tropical Department, Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital and colleagues brought many emotions: "At the time of extreme suffering, loss of hope, loss of faith in life, those hands reached out, grabbed and pulled me and my child back to life. To make me realize that I am not alone in the fight against the death god of HIV/AIDS, I am very grateful to the doctors and nurses who gave birth to me a healthy child, who can go to school with friends and live normally in the community."

Currently, the clinic is treating 496 children infected and exposed to HIV/AIDS. In fact, we have witnessed a child who has been treated in the hospital for 10 months at a time for 7 types of diseases such as sepsis due to fungal infection, lung abscess, pericardial effusion, pneumonia, encephalitis, tuberculosis, bone destruction, epiphysis...

The living conditions of many patients coming for treatment are mostly from families with HIV/AIDS patients who are very difficult, poor financially, orphaned, living with grandparents, relatives, if there is still a father or mother, they are all HIV positive. Treatment for children is very difficult, especially in counseling and treating HIV/AIDS patients, compliance with treatment procedures and time.

The hard life also affects the time for patients to return for check-ups. There are patients from other provinces, each time they go to get medicine it is very difficult because of their poor circumstances and they do not have enough money to travel. In some cases, they have enough money to go but not enough to return.

The most painful thing is when the children gradually understand the situation and wonder why they have to take medication regularly. At that time, the most difficult thing is to provide psychological counseling so that they can accept the information that they are infected with HIV. At times like that, the whole family and doctors work together to help the children overcome the stigma of the disease, continue treatment and have faith in life...

Thu Hien