Rabu 20 Jun 2012 20:33 WIB

Clemency Gunawan, a physician who treats HIV patients

Rep: Satya Festiani/RR Laeny S / Red: Yeyen Rostiyani
Scanning electron micrograph of HIV-1 (in green) budding from cultured lymphocyte. Multiple round bumps on cell surface represent sites of assembly and budding of virions. (illustration)
Foto: en.wikipedia.org
Scanning electron micrograph of HIV-1 (in green) budding from cultured lymphocyte. Multiple round bumps on cell surface represent sites of assembly and budding of virions. (illustration)

She warmly welcomes everyone entering the room. She does not look tired at all in her blue uniform. At a glance, she seems like any other employees, but the stethoscope in her hand show her profession.

The woman is dr Clemency Gunawan (34 years), a physician. Nothing like a general medical doctor, she treats the patients in Second Penitentiary 1 in Bekasi, West Java. Even more, she is the coordinator for the treatment of HIV/AIDS patients.

Clemency said, becoming a doctor is a dedication as many people need her help. The principle urged her to become a civil servant after graduating from university in 2002. She was then placed in the penitentiary.

At first, she was in charge in general sector before she was placed in Diabetes Mellitus. Five years after that, she was in charged to be the coordinator.

Her position gives her many responsibilities. She has to supervise the health analyst in HIV test. She also has to evaluate the cure for HIV, which is antiretro viral (ARV). Not only that, she also observes every HIV/AIDS patient and gives the counseling to the patients and their families.

She is not worried at all that she will get infected. The infection was not easy, she said. Yet, many patients are neglected by their families whereas actually they need their family’s support. "I feel sad to see that," she said.

Another thing that makes her cry is when the patients prefer to stop the treatment or even stop taking the medicine. Their behavior will jeopardize their life.

Apart from all the sadness, she also experiences happiness. The beautiful thing, she said, when she saw her patients could continue their life. This amazing experience can make her happy despite her small income. "For me, happiness cannot be measured with money," she said.

 

 

 

 

 

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