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ILOILO City — The sundown clinic of the city government was able to capture two cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) since it started its operation on Oct. 3.
The sundown clinic situated inside the city’s Social Hygiene Clinic operates during weekdays except holidays from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m.
According to Dr. Ma. Odeta Villareal, it is the only clinic of its kind in Western Visayas that seeks to capture professionals and even students whose availability is during nighttime or after office hours.
The clinic likewise offers free tests for syphilis, gonorrhea and other sexually-transmitted infections.
As of Nov. 21, the clinic was able to serve 52 clients for HIV testing, of which two were found positive; 36 clients for syphilis with two positive; 57 for gram staining and eight were found positive for gonorrhea, 10 non-gonococcal infection, one candidiasis and two urinary tract infections.
Aside from free tests, six minor clients categorized as male having sex with male (MSM) also availed themselves of their free counseling.
Villareal said the sundown clinic will be offering free HIV antibody test at the venue of the World AIDS Day (WAD) celebration this Dec. 1.
The celebration seeks to raise the awareness of the youth about the infection and likewise pay tribute to medical workers who are helping in the HIV – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) campaign. It will be held at the West Visayas State University (WVSU) campus to “highlight the advocacy campaign among the youth,” said Robert Figuracion of the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP).
The activity will also be highlighted by an exhibit dubbed “Sights and Sounds” with the theme “Ilonggo HIV Advocacy: Through the Years” and the launching of the WAD Run 2016.
The 2016 run slated Dec. 11 is expected to generate some P100,000 to be donated to the United Western Visayas Inc., a community of People Living with HIV. It targets students from 10 colleges and universities in this city.
Figuracion added that the focus of their advocacy is the youth sector as cases coming from their age bracket are getting alarming.
Data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed that 67 youths with ages 15-24 from Western Visayas were diagnosed with HIV during the first half of this year.
As of June this year from 1986, Western Visayas already recorded 1,357 HIV-AIDS cases.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ray Celis of the HIV-AIDS Core Team at the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) said that as of Oct. 30 this year, they are catering to 550 persons living with HIV-AIDS. Around 86 percent or 478 of them are taking anti-retroviral medication.
This year, WVMC has 224 additional new cases but 24 already died due to AIDS-related conditions, he revealed.
All patients diagnosed with HIV-AIDS are referred to WVMC for management. It is one of the two treatment hubs available in Western Visayas and Negros Occidental, Celis said. (PNA)
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