I plan on keeping this post up to date as often as possible. I do not have a professional medical background, although my father is a physician. This leaves me not adverse to appreciating the complexity of the field, and I am always intrigued to learn what I can.
Christian Aid Ministries was established principally to treat and cure Tuberculosis, a disease prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. Zambia has the tenth highest incidence rate of TB in the world, and TB is one of many opportunistic infections which plague people with HIV. 70 percent of all new TB patients in Zambia are co-infected with HIV (seventh highest rate in the world).
The easiest way to detect for TB is with a sputum-smear (SS+) test, available, but not free, at most government clinics in Zambia. It is estimated only 60 percent of TB cases are detected this way. According to USAID, Zambia has achieved 100 percent DOTS, the internationally recommended treatment method for TB, with an 85 percent success rate. However, from personal experience, statistics should only be taken as honestly as one can verify reporting methods. Although the government provides anti-TB drugs for free, delivery and administration continues to be a burden on the communities most afflicted by this disease. Without continuous treatment through to completion for a TB-infected patient, the disease has a high probability of mutating into a drug resistant form (MDR and XDR might be terms you've heard). Compounded with HIV and its other opportunistic infections, the challenge runs deep to provide patients with full support on a daily basis.
HIV has a 15-20 percent prevalence rate in the adult population in Zambia, possibly as high as 25 percent in urban areas. The goal of the Zambian government, in the way it has succeeded with anti-TB drugs, is to provide universal access to antiretorviral drugs. The current estimate is 70 percent availability. ARVs are not a cure for HIV (there is none), however due to many approved ARVs on the market, various single and combination therapies are possible. The goal is to keep HIV levels in the body low enough so that the virus takes much longer to become resistant to treatment, delaying the onset of AIDS and opportunistic infections.
Legitimate detection of HIV in a patient in Zambia involves paying for a test (not free, similar to the SS+ for TB). The test for HIV is a blood sample to detect the CD4 count in a patient. CD4 is a protein indicating the presence of T-helper cells (the "capos" of the immune system mafia). Below a certain count, HIV treatment is recommended. If the CD4 test is not available, diagnosis of HIV must occur via observation of trends and identification of stages of the disease as it progresses. This is not as effective as a blood test and obviously delays initial treatment.
There is a stigma associated with being tested for HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. Only 30 percent know their status in Zambia. A deeply rooted sociocultural barrier exists, but the Zambian government has taken charge and is working extensively with civil groups, NGOs, faith-based organizations, and private firms to provide access to diagnoses and ARVs, as well as education on the causes and truths about this disease. The Minister of Health paid a personal visit to Christian Aid Ministries last year to develop such ties.
I'll now move on to the laundry list of diseases and treatments which Stanley and Christian Aid Ministries manage in their patient base. This is mostly representative, but certainty not all-inclusive. Costs are approximate for steady-state support of eight communities.
HIV/AIDS
- TREAT: 20 or so varieties of ARVs
-- COST: depends on government availability
Opportunistic infections:
Tuberculosis
- TREAT: Rifampicin, Isoniazid, Pyrazinamide, Ethambutol
-- COST: depends on government availability
Malaria
- TREAT: Chloroquine, Mefloquine, Primaquine, Quinine, Pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine (Fansidar), Doxycycline
-- COST: varies
Diarrhea
- TREAT: Flagyl tabs, Albendazole tabs, Septrin tabs
-- COST:$70/mo
Pneumocyshs Carinii Pneumonia (PCP)
- TREAT: Hydrocortisone injection
-- COST: $35/mo
Karposis Sarcoma (KS)
- TREAT: Vincristine injection, Actinomycin injection, blood boosters
-- COST: $170/mo
Cryptococoal Meningitis
- TREAT: Fluconazole capsules, Amphoteracin B injection
-- COST: $80/mo
Herpes Zoster / Herpes Simplex
- TREAT: Acyclovir tabs, Gancliclovir tabs
-- COST: $100/mo
Candida
- TREAT: Nystatin oral suspensions, Ketocanazole tabs
-- COST: $115/mo
Peripheral Neuropathy
- TREAT: Nuerobien tabs, Diclofanac tabs
-- COST: $150/mo
Nutritional disorders
-- TREAT: Selenium supplements, Riconia/multivitamins
-- COST: $180/mo
CAM's model provides all-inclusive organization and delivery for treatment, education, counseling, meditation, and nutrition. They do not operate to feed everyone completely, but rather provide for basic nutritional sustenance, especially for high-risk patients and those who cannot work or provide for themselves.
A typical assortment of corn meal, beans, cooking oil, fish (Kapenta), vegetables, baby formula (for those who cannot breastfeed from sick mothers), and sugar is provided when possible throughout the communities and can cost as much as $2,000/mo depending on resource availability and need.
All the cost estimates in this rundown are for direct resources, not for delivery, administration, maintenance, staff, employment projects, or future investments. We are continually working with Stan to optimize acquisition and distribution of these resources, and hoping that CAM continues to empower their patients with opportunities to help their own communities, establish good market principles, and earn wages to sustain themselves.
Christian Aid Ministries was established principally to treat and cure Tuberculosis, a disease prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. Zambia has the tenth highest incidence rate of TB in the world, and TB is one of many opportunistic infections which plague people with HIV. 70 percent of all new TB patients in Zambia are co-infected with HIV (seventh highest rate in the world).
The easiest way to detect for TB is with a sputum-smear (SS+) test, available, but not free, at most government clinics in Zambia. It is estimated only 60 percent of TB cases are detected this way. According to USAID, Zambia has achieved 100 percent DOTS, the internationally recommended treatment method for TB, with an 85 percent success rate. However, from personal experience, statistics should only be taken as honestly as one can verify reporting methods. Although the government provides anti-TB drugs for free, delivery and administration continues to be a burden on the communities most afflicted by this disease. Without continuous treatment through to completion for a TB-infected patient, the disease has a high probability of mutating into a drug resistant form (MDR and XDR might be terms you've heard). Compounded with HIV and its other opportunistic infections, the challenge runs deep to provide patients with full support on a daily basis.
HIV has a 15-20 percent prevalence rate in the adult population in Zambia, possibly as high as 25 percent in urban areas. The goal of the Zambian government, in the way it has succeeded with anti-TB drugs, is to provide universal access to antiretorviral drugs. The current estimate is 70 percent availability. ARVs are not a cure for HIV (there is none), however due to many approved ARVs on the market, various single and combination therapies are possible. The goal is to keep HIV levels in the body low enough so that the virus takes much longer to become resistant to treatment, delaying the onset of AIDS and opportunistic infections.
Legitimate detection of HIV in a patient in Zambia involves paying for a test (not free, similar to the SS+ for TB). The test for HIV is a blood sample to detect the CD4 count in a patient. CD4 is a protein indicating the presence of T-helper cells (the "capos" of the immune system mafia). Below a certain count, HIV treatment is recommended. If the CD4 test is not available, diagnosis of HIV must occur via observation of trends and identification of stages of the disease as it progresses. This is not as effective as a blood test and obviously delays initial treatment.
There is a stigma associated with being tested for HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. Only 30 percent know their status in Zambia. A deeply rooted sociocultural barrier exists, but the Zambian government has taken charge and is working extensively with civil groups, NGOs, faith-based organizations, and private firms to provide access to diagnoses and ARVs, as well as education on the causes and truths about this disease. The Minister of Health paid a personal visit to Christian Aid Ministries last year to develop such ties.
I'll now move on to the laundry list of diseases and treatments which Stanley and Christian Aid Ministries manage in their patient base. This is mostly representative, but certainty not all-inclusive. Costs are approximate for steady-state support of eight communities.
HIV/AIDS
- TREAT: 20 or so varieties of ARVs
-- COST: depends on government availability
Opportunistic infections:
Tuberculosis
- TREAT: Rifampicin, Isoniazid, Pyrazinamide, Ethambutol
-- COST: depends on government availability
Malaria
- TREAT: Chloroquine, Mefloquine, Primaquine, Quinine, Pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine (Fansidar), Doxycycline
-- COST: varies
Diarrhea
- TREAT: Flagyl tabs, Albendazole tabs, Septrin tabs
-- COST:$70/mo
Pneumocyshs Carinii Pneumonia (PCP)
- TREAT: Hydrocortisone injection
-- COST: $35/mo
Karposis Sarcoma (KS)
- TREAT: Vincristine injection, Actinomycin injection, blood boosters
-- COST: $170/mo
Cryptococoal Meningitis
- TREAT: Fluconazole capsules, Amphoteracin B injection
-- COST: $80/mo
Herpes Zoster / Herpes Simplex
- TREAT: Acyclovir tabs, Gancliclovir tabs
-- COST: $100/mo
Candida
- TREAT: Nystatin oral suspensions, Ketocanazole tabs
-- COST: $115/mo
Peripheral Neuropathy
- TREAT: Nuerobien tabs, Diclofanac tabs
-- COST: $150/mo
Nutritional disorders
-- TREAT: Selenium supplements, Riconia/multivitamins
-- COST: $180/mo
CAM's model provides all-inclusive organization and delivery for treatment, education, counseling, meditation, and nutrition. They do not operate to feed everyone completely, but rather provide for basic nutritional sustenance, especially for high-risk patients and those who cannot work or provide for themselves.
A typical assortment of corn meal, beans, cooking oil, fish (Kapenta), vegetables, baby formula (for those who cannot breastfeed from sick mothers), and sugar is provided when possible throughout the communities and can cost as much as $2,000/mo depending on resource availability and need.
All the cost estimates in this rundown are for direct resources, not for delivery, administration, maintenance, staff, employment projects, or future investments. We are continually working with Stan to optimize acquisition and distribution of these resources, and hoping that CAM continues to empower their patients with opportunities to help their own communities, establish good market principles, and earn wages to sustain themselves.
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