We are reviewing the outcome of antiretroviral treatment at Arba Minch Hospital. We started treating patients in 2003, and since then about 1550 patients have received the antiviral drugs.
Our early papers showed the death rates among patients were high during the first months of treatment. We thought the reasons for these high death rates were the patients came late for treatment; that is, they presented themselves with late stage disease.
Our objective for the study is to see if the treatment results improve over time, and if patients present with earlier stage disease. Dr Zewdie Mulissa and Dr Degu Dare take part in this study.
Our preliminary findings confirm improved survival, and that patients come earlier for treatment. We are now also trying to find out what happens to patients after they are diagnosed with HIV until they start treatment.