AEGiS-15IAC: ARV Fund : A fund to provide treatment for people with AIDS in Indonesia who are making an impact.

15th International AIDS Conference


Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

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ARV Fund : A fund to provide treatment for people with AIDS in Indonesia who are making an impact.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. E10219)

Adisty R
Spiritia Foundation, Jakarta, Indonesia

ISSUES: : The number of PLHAs in Indonesia who are now speaking openly and becoming involved in the response to the epidemic in Indonesia is increasing. But many of these people have limited resources, and have often been diagnosed late, so that they quickly succumb to the disease. It is discouraging if all of those who have been provided with skills and self-confidence to contribute then fall sick and die, before they can make a real impact.

DESCRIPTION: : In the middle of 2003, Spiritia Foundation set up a program called ARV Fund to ensure that those who are playing a key role in responding to the AIDS epidemic can get access to ARV treatment at least for one year. The fund came from every level of community, through donation box and also from well-wishers in Indonesia and overseas. To distribute the fund, clear criteria were prepared following WHO guidelines.

LESSONS LEARNED: : From the limited fund now there are 6 people being funded. Their health are getting better and now they are empowering themselves by giving out the message to the society about the benefits of ARV therapy. Challenges that we are facing are the lack stocks of drugs and the cost is still high because Indonesia is still importing from other countries like India and Thailand.

RECOMMENDATIONS: : The good news is now one of Indonesia's pharmacy already produces generic ARV drugs. The two combinations (AZT,3TC) are distributed since December 2003, and the three combination (AZT,3TC,Neviraphine) are planned to be distributed in the middle of January 2004. Both of them in more appropriate price. In this case, these mean that more people can be funded, not forgetting to train more proffesional medical staffs.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Financial Management, Zidovudine, Lamivudine, Indonesia, Disease Outbreaks, Foundations, India, Thailand, therapy, economics

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E10219

Copyright © 2004 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.