HIV Equity Initiative Clinic

Every Tuesday and Thursday at Martha Tubman Memorial Hospital, Consultation Room #2 in the Outpatient Department becomes the HIV Equity Initiative (HEI) Clinic. This is where Tiyatien Health's friends come to start anti-retrovirals (ARV), receive primary healthcare, refill their ARVs and other medications, and receive support and encouragement. Paper records are stacked on a desk. A scale sits on the ground. Ledgers are open on a table. Scraps of white paper serves as prescriptions. Othello, the extremely dedicated HEI Clinic Physician Assistant, usually sees all the patients, but on Thursday, he was sick, so I had to sit in for him.

Othello, our HEI Clinic Physician Assistant

Ms. R walked into the room with her 6 month old baby. My eyes lit up, seeing how much stronger she appears. Gia and I had just discharged her 2 weeks ago after a hospitalization for anorexia, anemia, and a new diagnosis of HIV. After meeting with our HIV Counseling and Testing Counselor as an inpatient, she agreed to initiation of ARVs. Ms. R returned to clinic to pick up her ARVs. She gained 6 lbs in 2 weeks, reported that she was eating and drinking well, and had no side effects from the ARVs. Most importantly, she has not missed one dose of her ARVs. She left with a follow up appointment in 1 month and a refill of her life-saving medications.

As I finished writing my clinic note and filling out the proper paperwork, Ms. L walked into the room. Her face stretched into a broad grin when she recognized me behind the desk. I had seen Ms. L about 10 days prior in HEI Clinic. She appeared ill, was breathing fast, and had some crackles in her right lung base. I admitted her for pneumonia, and she began antibiotics. Daily, Gia and I rounded on her, and slowly, she improved. By discharge, she was asking me to go home as she was ambulating, eating and drinking, and her crackles were no longer there. I had gone over her discharge medications and made her promise to come back to HEI Clinic in 3 days. She made good on her promise. My face also stretched in a broad grin when I saw her. She looked well and continued to take all her discharge antibiotics. Ms. L received a refill of her ARVs and asked me if I would be at HEI Clinic next month. Unfortunately, no, I told her. She frowned and asked whether I could visit her in Janzon, a forty-five minute drive away from Zwedru. I promised I would try. We exchanged the Liberian handshake, and then we hugged. We both had gigantic smiles on her faces.

I continue to hope that both Ms. R and Ms. L will take their ARVs and come to HEI Clinic monthly. Both of them are testament to the success of Tiyatien Health, its accompaniers, and the HEI Clinic.