June 30, 1998
Life savings People with Aids in Chiang Mai have struggled to keep body and soul together since the government stopped subsidising imported medicines such as AZT. But one group hopes that by working together and organising a medicine bank, they will increase their access to the more effective -- and expensive -- drugs which can help them battle Aids-related illnesses. WE CARE: Last year the government stopped subsidising virtually all Aids drugs. Now a group of HIV-infected patients in Chiang Mai are organising a medicine bank so they can help each other get access to the expensive drugs which can keep the deadly virus at bay. Karnjariya Sukrung Last year Mr Mana lost the sight in his left eye and the vision in his right eye is becoming increasingly blurred because of a fungal infection. Without AZT and other anti-retroviral drugs he will soon be blind. The lives of people like Mr Mana, who are HIV positive and who have developed Aids, became even harder in the middle of last year. Then, due to the economic crisis, the government stopped subsidising all imported Aids medicines except AZT taken by infected women during their pregnancy. Now people with Aids who want access to the expensive medicines face costs of between 10,000-30,000 baht a month. Many of those who need the medicines are too poor - or are sick and out of work - to even contemplate such costs. For some it's all been too much and they have taken their lives. The very ill wait on their deathbeds with no hope of trying to keep their illness at bay, while others rely on herbs and health foods and meditation. Mr Mana, a former finance firm employee, says he has been taking herbal medicine since losing his job seven months ago. "It's hard to tell myself things are going to be okay without the expensive drugs. But this herbal medicine is all I have," he says. "My doctor, told me quitting AZT might later cause me to be resistant to the drug and there'll be no other medicines to help me," said Mr Mana. The exorbitant price of Aids medicines means only a small number of patients can now afford them. Many have sold their belongings to buy the medicines to prolong their lives. "I used to spend roughly 12,000 baht a month for the medicines," says Mrs Somrak, a former businesswoman. "Now, because of the weak baht, it costs more than 20,000 baht. Worse still, I have lost my job because of the economic crisis." Since she was infected with the HIV virus five years ago, her medical bill has topped nearly one million baht. To clear the crippling medical bills, Mrs Somrak has sold her family land and house. Now she lives on a meagre saving account. A group of Aids patients, however, believe their hope lies in a medicine bank. "We have set up the medicine bank for Aids patients because we believe there are a lot of understanding people out there who want to help us," says Samran Takan, a member of the New Life Friends Centre, a group set up by people with HIV/Aids. Mr Samran, is a healthy-looking man in his 40's. He has been living with Aids for more than 10 years. "People with HIV/Aids can live a normal, healthy life as a productive citizen for a long time if they get proper treatment, just like people with any other sickness," he said. "You can't just say, sooner or later Aids patients will die so it's no use helping them," he said. Many patients' conditions worsened after they learned of the medicine cut-back. "Many people simply lost hope," says Mr Samran. "Patients with good mental health can cope with the disease much better than those without." With the idea of a medicine bank many Aids patients felt more hopeful again, said Mr Samran. The idea of the bank is to organise a supply of medicines for Aids patients. Families and relatives of those who have died of Aids have donated some unused medicines and first-aid equipment to the bank. And others have sent money to support the project which is still in its infancy and is still in need of help. "I've seen relatives throwing medicines and other treatments onto the crematorium pyre at the funerals of Aids victims," said Mr Samran. "With the medicine bank, they can now donate the drugs instead of destroying them and they can help other people battle the disease." Kriengkrai Srithanaviboonchai, a doctor who has been treating Aids patients at San Sai hospital, said the medicines most needed are: AZT, DDI, DDC, Sporal, Amphotericin-B, Fluconazole (Ditlucan), Ketoconazole and strong painkillers like Tramal (Tramadol Hol). Other first-aid equipment and medicines, and even things as simple as saline water are also needed. The medicine bank will work in conjunction with the San Sai District Hospital where 90 percent of the members of the New Life Friends Centre have regular visits. Mr Samran said staff at the San Sai Hospital will inspect the donated medicine to ensure it is in good condition and the hospital will stock the medicines and dispense them to the patients. The bank aims to help 400 members of the centre. Although it caters to only a fraction of the total number of people with Aids in Chiang Mai, some fear the medicine bank will still not be able to satisfy all the members' needs. "If there are not enough medicine for everyone who needs it, we have to decide who needs them most and in what amount," says Dr Kriengkrai who will supervise the bank. According to Dr Kriengkrai, when the hospital received sponsored under the government programme, it spent approximately two million baht a month on the cost of drugs for 100 HIV infected patients. "It is a huge dilemma, whether to give medicine to everyone, but in modest amounts to try and sustain their lives, or to give larger doses to fewer people in a bid to improve their quality of life," said the programme supervisor. Dr Kriengkrai is also concerned that if supplies fall short, it could have an adverse affect on the patients. With proper treatment and medication, patients who are still healthy and strong can live a normal life and play a full role and contribute to society," says Dr Kriengkrai Srithanaviboonchai at San Sai District Hospital. "If patients start to take an anti-retroviral drug, they have to take it for the rest of their lives. If they stop taking the drug, the affect is more severe than if they had never taken the drug in the first place," the doctor said. The patients are aware of Dr Kriengkrai's fears and they accept the project is not without complications, but they say it is better than nothing at all. The bank for the costly HIV/Aids drugs requires huge funding because most of the drugs are imported and expensive. The centre also needs financial support as well as drug donations. Mr Samran and other members of the centre plan to deal with the financial hurdle with various fundraising projects - but they hope local and international non government organisations, and private benefactors might help them. They have also decided patients who can afford it, should make some contribution towards the cost of the drugs. Members who still have jobs have promised to make a regular contributions to the centre's fund. Patients without jobs are engaging in light manual work like handicrafts so the products can be sold at the centre's cooperative shop and in the marketplace. Products include carpets, hand-woven cloth, artificial flowers and crematorium flowers. "We have to help one another. Those with some money and jobs help those who are poorer and jobless. We don't think of it as a burden. If we help each other we can all survive this crisis together," said Mr Samran. It is hoped the medicine bank will be up and running soon. Until it is, the centre's members rely on paracetamol, cough syrups, vitamins, and herbal medicines to cure their simple afflictions. The centre also provides information on proper diet, herbal medicine, meditation, and other methods which the patients can use to try and fight the deadly virus. "It is better than nothing," said Sriwanee Charoenwong, vice-chairperson of the New Life Friends Centre "But with donations to the medicine bank, we can help many more people, more effectively. "With proper treatment and medication patients who are still healthy and strong can live a normal life and play a full role and contribute to society," says Dr Kriengkrai. - - Information for donations Name of organisation : New Life Friends Centre Address : 9/57 Suthep Road, Tambon Suthep, Chiang Mai 50200 Founder : Samran Takan Tel / Fax: 66-53-808233 Savings Bank account name : New Life Friends Centre Bank account number: 504-022863-6 Bank name and branch : Bangkok Bank, Suthep Road, Chiang Mai Please send or fax a copy of the deposit slip to the above address so the foundation can issue every donor a receipt.		Classifeds Jobs Property Entertainment Investment Education Travel Sales Learn English Weekly Database Horizons NiteOwl Student Weekly Real Time Special We Care Street Art Back Issues Last Month Archive Company Servcies Subscriptions Advertising Annual Report
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