is the grand title of those occasions when we pile into the Mother of Mercy Hospice minibus or Hilux to run mobile clinics, offer HIV testing or make visits to our patients in their homes (or, even better for them, when they're not at home because they're working or visiting elsewhere- healthy enough to be active!)
The idea of home visits is to make sure they are being looked after if necessary and supported by an 'adherence supporter' or buddy who checks that the medication regime is being adhered to. This is crucial as, when drugs are missed, HIV can develop resistance to that set of drugs, necessitating a change of regime (or 'line') As there only are a limited number of drugs available and some are not suitable for other medical reasons, the patient is entering an even more tricky area.
On other occasions, the minibus is packed up with HIV testing kits, tables and stools and we set up a mobile testing facility in one of the busy compounds. Those who present (usually 40 in a morning session) are counselled, given the rapid fingerprick test and recounselled after when the result is known (about 10 minutes)
The third category of visitation is a mobile ART clinic, offering counselling, health checks and the provision of ART (anti retro viral therapy) medications to patients enrolled in our clinic but living as much as a two day journey (on foot) away from the hospice. This follows exactly the procedure carried out at our regular (Tues, Thurs and Fri) clinics.
We're an adaptable bunch; have minibus,will travel that extra mile to ensure our patients are well cared for and respected, even the poorest or the most remote.
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