The cost of HIV and AIDS is high enough - for individuals it means loss of well-being or a loved one and for the nation a loss of skilled and healthy workers. The Gold Star Network is a groundbreaking plan for those living with HIV and AIDS that not only lessens the effects of HIV disease, but also reduces the emotional and financial burden.
Traditionally in Kenya, medical schemes have generally provided inadequate benefits for the treatment of HIV or AIDS, giving their members no reason to disclose their condition. As a result, people have concealed their HIV positive status for fear of exclusion from company benefits.
The Gold Star Network changes all this and gives you three good reasons to break the silence:
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Confidentiality
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Additional Benefits
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Ongoing Support
Confidentiality
Despite efforts in recent years to educate the public about HIV and AIDS, misconceptions are still rife with fear and ignorance about the condition often obscuring the facts.
Being branded as HIV-positive in some cases has brought social stigma, so why would anyone want to disclose? If you involve the Gold Star Network as your partner in managing your condition, you will come to realize that:
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The Gold Star Network program is administered by a team of healthcare professionals, completely separate from your employer
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Should you have HIV and decide to join the program, every care has been taken to maintain confidentiality
Additional Benefits
Over the last few years, tremendous progress has been made in the treatment of HIV and AIDS. As a result, by joining the Gold Star Network you will be able to access:
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Regular monitoring for progression of HIV disease
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Drugs to prevent and/or treat opportunistic infections
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Nutrition supplementation, advice and counseling
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Drugs to treat HIV (Antiretroviral Therapy)
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Ongoing counseling for treatment adherence and psycho-social support
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Family-focused counseling and appropriate care/treatment
Appropriate family planning and fertility options
The Gold Star Network is comprised of specially trained doctors, who will ensure that you receive the most appropriate treatment for your condition. They will also remind you to do regular check-ups and tests. The test results are used to monitor the state of your health and update your treatment where necessary. In addition, those who are sexually active will access prevention commodities and will be supported to adopt safe options for contraception and fertility. Where conception takes place, both the mother and baby will be taken care of in such a way as to optimize the health of the mother and ensuring the baby does not acquire HIV.
Ongoing Support
The Gold Star Network aims to improve your quality of life and offers you individualized as well as family-focused support and care. Once you have been diagnosed, the program can help you take responsible action to avoid the condition affecting your partner or children. The trained doctors and counselors are able to assist you should you have any questions regarding your HIV status.
The program’s highly trained clinical staff will also work to continually monitor your condition and update your treatment whenever necessary. You may contact the Gold Star Network members for advice and information at any time they are open for service. Dedicated and qualified counselors based at a Support Centre will take your calls and respond to your enquiries on general as well as clinical issues. Your Gold Star Network provider similarly has access to colleagues with whom they may receive advise on further patient/client care, thereby ensuring you always access the best quality service.
Very few people who are HIVpositive are aware of' their condition. Please allow us to help you identify the illness at an early stage and let us assist you to manage your health and well-being so that you can remain an active and healthy member of your family, community and workplace. |
