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By Ronald Bugarin (From ART First Dose Chronicles, Illustration by TJ Gellada Monzon) For newly diagnosed Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV), among their top concerns are the possible side effects that might come once they start treatment. These side effects may have an impact on their way of life, especially at work and their studies. In this article, we will try to tackle the different antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, their possible side effects, and how to handle these side effects so as not to affect the PLHIVs way of life. Antiviral Drugs Antiretroviral or ARV is an inhibitor drug that blocks HIV from attaching to cells of immunity specifically the CD4 cell (also known as T-cell or T helper cells) and prevents it from multiplying. It has to be taken daily to suppress HIV and prevent the decline of the body's natural defense caused by the virus . Below are the various ARV drugs and the possible side effects that may occur upon taking said component: ARV DRUG FOR MONITORING SIDE EFF...

By LoveYourself Communications MANDALUYONG CITY (March 20, 2020) – The LoveYourself, Inc., a community-based non-profit primary health care facility for people living with HIV (PLHIV), appeals for the support of the government for the continued and uninterrupted access of PLHIV to anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs. Primarily, LoveYourself asks for the help of concerned national agencies, the local government units, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the Philippine National Police, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to ensure smooth delivery of health services to the PLHIV community. The organization understands the government's precautions, and fully abide with the directives of the Department of Health (DOH) to help contain the spread of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), but the continued delivery of its services is crucial in addressing another kind of pandemic, which is HIV. LoveYourself Executive Director Ronivin Pagtakhan explained that "People living with...

By LoveYourself Communications In response to the impending community quarantine in Metro Manila on March 15, 2020, LoveYourself has innovated its antiretroviral therapy (ART) refill delivery system. Through the XPress by LoveYourself, clients enrolled in its treatment services can have their ART refills delivered to their doorstep. This ensures reduced risk for LoveYourself clients living with HIV to be exposed to COVD-19 by reducing the number of clients visiting LoveYourself Centers and eliminating the need to travel. Sign up for the service at go.loveyourself.ph/xpressrefill . Please be mindful of the following eligibility requirements: 6 months experience of ART (no dropping out of care in between). Must have a recent viral load monitoring result within 1 year of less than 1000 copies/mL (Undetectable Viral Load ) Good eligibility status in PhilHealth due to updated contributions. Experience no severe adverse effects of ART Have at least 12 days worth of remaining ART pills. NOTIC...

By: Ronald Bugarin Every newly diagnosed Person Living with HIV (PLHIV) has to absorb a wealth of information about their journey towards and in treatment.  Among the multitude of terms to remember, most commonly used are “ CD4 Count ” and “ Viral Load ” but what do these terms really mean and how important are they to every PLHIV who are on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) ? CD4 Count CD4 cells (also known as T-cells, or T helper cells) are white blood cells that fight off infections that enter the body.  Its main function is to send signals upon entry of a virus or bacteria to other types of immune cells, including CD8 cells to fight off the cells infected by bacteria and viruses. Upon successful HIV transmission in the body, the virus enters the CD4 cells and replicates after which, new copies of the virus will then be released and attaches to other CD4 cells. This ultimately opens the body to possible opportunistic infections due to the continuous decline of the CD4 and CD8 c...