By Mary Maina
With the effects of Covid-19 still impacting our lives economically and socially it is possible to do without our personal needs while getting buried within the stress waves, this is where self-care comes in, unlike the backwards perception of self-care being a luxury more than a priority it is important to know that Self-care does not have to cost anything and is not synonymous with self-indulgence or being selfish. It’s basically anything that floats your boat or makes you happy while including everything related to staying healthy like practicing good hygiene, good diet and medical care when needed.
Self-care is an important aspect of staying healthy and feeling strong, one can use either devices, digital interventions, drugs or Diagnosis in promoting their self-care practices. It is also important to start a self-care routine to be able to identify your triggers, monitor recovery process and note areas of improvement while putting the aspect of fun in it. This practice can greatly vary from individual to individual as it is a very personal undertaking, it is a conscious act people take in order to promote their physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health and actively manage sickness when it occurs.
Long term illnesses like HIV/AIDS can be well be managed by proper and consistent self-care practices like; regular physical activities that improves your appetite and lowers blood pressure, cholesterol, stress and can also help you sleep better. Eating healthy foods and having a nutritious diet helps to keep your immune system strong to prevent infections in addition to Coping with HIV-related depression, lowering stress and managing your mental health. People living with HIV are encouraged to not only seek the help of medications, but also follow a wide array of other self-developed or self-taught non pharmaceutical strategies to allay their symptoms. With proper treatment regimen and healthy lifestyle habits, one can live a long, productive life as they work towards achieving their long-term goals.
Good adherence to medication is key in ensuring there is good drug interaction this means taking your ART at roughly the same time each day this is effective for ensuring the drug levels stay above the minimum 24hours a day and following any restrictions about taking them with or without food to lower the chances of drug resistance as well as to lower the viral load of the virus in the blood while increasing the CD4 counts making one undetectable and lowers the chances of transmission.
A good support system like peer supporters in health facilities can also help in emphasizing good adherence through conducting home visits, physical dots and virtual dots especially to new clients, viremias and defaulters. One can also join a support group of PLHIV so as to develop skills to help them navigate their HIV journey with ease; it also offers a space for individuals to share and reflect on personal experiences, coping strategies while learning from those who have faced the same challenges.Young people understanding that their health is their responsibility is a great game changer in the access and uptake of their Sexual and Reproductive Health services. It means zero blame game and full accountability for one’s health and wellbeing.
Mary Maina is a peer supporter and a youth advocate at NAYA.
