ROXAS City – Anti-retroviral drugs, care and other needed support will be offered by the local government to people living with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) , or PLWHA who have been confirmed through a free HIV test.
This was recently disclosed by Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC) director Dr. Jojo Feliciano to the local media, adding that the call to action is for those into risky behavior to undergo the laboratory procedure to be able to avail of government assistance if found inflicted by the virus.
Free HIV testing is now locally available in provincial government-run hospitals and the City Health Office to interested Capiceños who would like to undergo the laboratory procedure.
These are at the Roxas City Health Office, Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital and Bailan District Hospital in Bailan town which have HIV proficient medical technologists.
The Provincial Health Office (PHO) along Arnaldo Boulevard also offers a clinical test aside from their personnel going to communities and local government units to conduct the test per request.
Based on records, there are 59,135 PLWHA cases that have been documented nationwide as of September this year.
“They are those who voluntarily registered with Department of Health (DOH) – accredited health providers which indicate that there are still PLWHAs who do not know their health condition because they have not undergone the test yet,” he said.
For her part, PHO HIV/AIDS program coordinator Dr. Evelyn T. Bolido said that all pregnant women in the province are also encouraged to undergo HIV testing. Pre- and post-counseling are being conducted to the clients who intend to take the test.
The province has already recorded 184 PLWHA cases from 1993 to August 2018. (PIA/PN)
