Southern Holistic Programmes Do More Than Just Treat Illness

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Southern holistic programmes do more than just treat illness

By Wannapa Khaopa

The Nation

Songkhla , Satun

Songkhla and Satun -- After being infected with HIV by her husband and living with deadly Aids for years, Na (not her real name), a resident of Songkhla province, found herself isolated from others in the community.

As a result, she has had to endure the depression, stress and pressure alone. No relatives come and share her troubles. But with understanding and sympathy from physicians and nurses, Na's life has changed to a brighter future.

"Doctors and nurses at Hat Yai Hospital made me realise I'm not alone. Though they are not my relatives, I feel they are. They are the ones who took care of me when I was admitted to the hospital for several months in 2006 to undergo treatment for tuberculosis of the stomach," Na said.

"They've given me new life. They make me confident that I can spend my life the same as others."

She suffered severely from the gastrointestinal TB, an opportunistic infection of Aids. She had only a 50-per-cent chance of surviving.

Na knew she had Aids when she underwent the treatment at the hospital after her husband's death 10 years ago.

Despite overwhelming depression after the physicians confirmed the infection, continuous treatment and recreational and occupational training activities Na has done at the hospital helped boost her morale and strengthen her health.

"I've passed the toughest situation in my life. Now, I can help the physicians and nurses here who have given me a better life to improve conditions and morale for new HIV/Aids patients. I share my experience with them and cheer them up when I accompany the nurses to visit their homes," she said as she talked proudly about her volunteer duty.

Ampaipith Nilmanat, the hospital's internist, initiated a holistic care centre for HIV and Aids patients three years ago aiming at reducing mortality, preserving immunological function and promoting health.

"Up to 2,359 patients had access to care in this fiscal year. Our centre tries to provide easy access to drugs for them. Relevant clinics coordinate with one another to treat and transfer the patients. We turn weak patients into counsellors, like Na, for new patients," she said.

"We reduced the HIV transmission rate from mothers to their babies to 0.36 per cent last year, down from 2.76 per cent in 2006."

The centre offers the patients occupational training, such as handicrafts and knitting, as well as teaching meditation.

It is supported by the National Health Security Office (NHSO), among organisations that successfully take care of chronic patients.

Meanwhile, in Satun province, a primary care unit has opened to provide holistic care for chronic patients suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure.

Over the past four months since its official opening in May, the unit has taken care of 52 patients, said Nuradeenee Meedsen, a nurse at the unit.

She said officers there served the patients intimately, speaking with them in local dialects. Village health volunteers were trained to take care of chronic patients and disabled people and encourage those in risky health groups to change their behaviour. Patients suffering the same diseases do activities together and share their experiences of health care - so they learn from each other.

"We use friendship therapy. Our officers and volunteers visit patients at home and take care of them and other sick family members."

Nuradeenee said patients were happy with the unit, as they did not have to travel long distances and wait in a long queue at hospital.

"When we closely care for patients, we see good signs as their blood-sugar levels decrease," she said.

Locals in the South not only treat diseases but focus on disease prevention.

In Songkhla's tambon Tha Chang of Bang Klam district, villagers run their own community health fund to encourage people in different ages to take care their health, working with the three principles of emotion, food and exercise.

For two years, the fund's officers have given advice and provided areas for people of different ages to exercise. They have encouraged people to grow pesticide-free vegetables and teach housewives to cook healthy food. Music, traditional performances, folk toys and folklore have been used to help people relax and strengthen relationships between the elderly and children.

Wichien Iedkaew, 67, a man in the tambon who plays a musical instrument, said: "I feel so good. Music makes me relax, and I don't feel alone because I've often met and played music with my friends.

"We're planning to teach children to perform the Manora traditional dance soon. Passing on traditional things is really good activity."

The NHSO also supports the Satun's primary care unit and this fund.

-- The Nation 2010-10-05