Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Miami Herald - February 5, 2006
Jacob Goldstein, jgoldstein@MiamiHerald.com
"We hope that things will be smooth, but we are also preparing for the worst," said Dr. Jean William Pape, whose Port-au-Prince clinic, Gheskio, cares for more than 2,000 AIDS patients.
Haiti has the highest rate of AIDS outside of Africa, and in recent years an international effort has brought life-saving antiretroviral drugs to thousands on the island.
But those drugs must be taken every day, and missing just a few doses can allow the disease to become resistant to treatment.
In the run-up to Tuesday's elections, Gheskio's patients have been given a two-week stockpile of drugs along with phone cards to call for help. Doctors and nurses have been assigned patients who live near them, and they are equipped to work out of their homes.
The contingency planning is a repeat of the preparations undertaken before a coup unseated President Jean-Bertrand Aristide two years ago.
"In normal situations, [patients] would come to our site," Pape said. "But because our site may be very hot and they may not be able to reach it in case things turn sour, we have given them alternatives."
060205
MH060202
Copyright © 2006 - Miami Herald. All rights reserved. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Miami Herald, Permissions, One Herald Plaza, Miami, FL 33132-1693 TEL: (305) 376-3719. http://www.herald.com.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2006. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2006. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .