The Clínica de Familia is a comprehensive community health services organization in La Romana, which runs one of the largest HIV clinics in the Dominican Republic, in addition to primary care services, an adolescent reproductive health clinic, and a specialized clinic for sex workers, among other programs. The Clínica de Familia is changing lives. Here we share with you the stories of Lucia and Valeria.
Lucia and Valeria are two Romanenses with unique lives and stories. Nevertheless, they share a common struggle to overcome poverty and HIV. They have succeeded in this struggle due to their own perseverance and with the support of Clínica de Familia La Romana, a nongovernmental organization focused on improving the health and quality of life of vulnerable families in the eastern Dominican Republic.
Lucia, a beautician who overcame the stigma of HIV
Lucia lost her job as a manicurist in a beauty salon when the owner discovered that she had HIV. At that time, the owner informed her that she did not want to risk losing clients by having an employee with AIDS, although there was no risk of HIV transmission to the clients. Lucia went to Clínica de Familia where she received help to buy a manicure and pedicure set, for use at her own home and at clients’ homes. With her new equipment she has been able to make enough to support herself. Lucia reports that now, thanks to this support, she feels that her life has value and is hopeful for the future.
Valeria, a life transformed
A year ago, Valeria came to the Clínica de Familia in deplorable health. She had just been diagnosed with HIV and TB and was extremely malnourished. She lived with her three children ages 4, 7 and 13, in a ramshackle one-room zinc hut. Located in a rocky area, there were many cockroaches and mice. With support from Clínica de Familia staff, Valeria was admitted to the hospital emergency department. Meanwhile her children were taken home by a temporary caregiver while she recovered in the hospital. As Valeria recovered, Clinica de Familia completely overhauled her house. The Clínica de Familia poured a new concrete floor, removing the stones that were havens for mice and cockroaches. When she left the hospital, the Clínica de Familia further supported her during her home-based recovery, providing additional child care and food.
Now healthy, Valeria has a better home to care for her children and also operate a small business. She currently sells used clothing, allowing her to cover some of the household expenses.
Living with HIV
As the unique stories of Lucia and Valeria demonstrate, people living with HIV in La Romana face familial, social, economic, and health challenges. Similar to these two women, approximately 80% of the clinic’s patients live in extreme poverty. For this reason, Clínica de Familia plays a critical role in helping people with HIV stay healthy, both physically and emotionally.
While Lucia and Valeria received free medical care and antiretroviral treatment from the Clinic, they also received much more support that went way beyond their physical health needs. Like other Clinic patients, they completed a social work assessment to determine their economic and social needs. They then received comprehensive support, including home visits, counseling services, and social services, as well as ongoing medical care.
Furthermore, the Clinic’s social service department helps clients meet their basic needs, as well as cover the costs of special exams and medications not available in the Clinic.
The Clinic also provides housing assistance and nutritional support. The nutritional support alone has helped improve patients’ medication adherence and health status, as was evident in the case of Valeria. Finally, the social service department covers the cost of transportation to medical appointments for very poor patients, leading to higher attendance rates at the Clinic.
It is primarily through donations that the Clinic’s social service department is able to provide such extensive support to people with HIV and their families. Ultimately, it is due to this support that the Clinic has such a tremendous impact on its clients, giving people like Lucia and Valeria the chance to become and stay healthy and lead full, productive, happy lives.
The Clínica de Familia is changing lives.
Clínica de Familia La Romana
Find out more about the Clínica de Familia La Romana at:
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