SAN JOSE, Antique – To intensify its campaign on Immunodeficiency Virus – Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV-AIDS), the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) are bringing their information drive in schools.
IPHO nurse Gerald Tung cited the high incidence of the viral disease among younger age groups.
“Of the 185 number of cases in the province, 36 percent belong to the age group 15 to 24 years old,” Tung said.
He added that the 36 percent or 66 of those diagnosed with HIV-AIDS are with the senior high school age group.
Tung said “Since the June school opening, we had been going to the schools to conduct advocacy against HIV/AIDS,” he added.
He added that they already conducted their advocacy campaign at the Advance Central College, University of Antique, and the Antique National School.
“The Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) had already been equipped on how to handle HIV-AIDS cases,” Tung said.
He said some 800 BHWs in the entire province, clustered into five municipalities each, had undergone a one-day training last year on how to end the stigma on HIV/AIDS.
“We are also proposing the establishment of condom station(s) even in just Antique’s capital town, San Jose de Buenavista, initially,” he said.
Tung noted that condom stations had already been established in several areas in Iloilo City.
Condoms are provided for free as a means to minimize teenage pregnancy and decrease the incidence of HIV-AIDS.
He said the establishment of condom stations in Iloilo City also met strong resistance from the people, but the IPHO persisted. (With a report from PNA/PN)
