ILOILO – Government-run hospitals across Western Visayas must have testing centers for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), according to the Department of Health (DOH). The goal is to make people aware of their HIV status, especially those engaged in risqué activities.
HIV causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition. By damaging the immune system, HIV interferes with the body’s ability to fight organisms that cause diseases.
“If you belong to that segment of the population with risky behavior, please submit yourself to HIV testing,” said Adrian Hort Ramos, program coordinator for sexually transmissible infections (STI) / HIV-AIDS of DOH Region 6.
While there is no cure yet to HIV/AIDS, there are medicines that can dramatically slow down the progress of the virus. These antiretroviral drugs have reduced AIDS deaths in many developed nations and DOH gives these out for free.
As of November 2018, the region’s cumulative HIV cases reached 2,946 (since Western Visayas’ first case was recorded in 1986).
By December, the region ranked No. 5 among regions with the highest number of cases.
DOH said one person was diagnosed with HIV every 13 hours in Region 6.
To “reach the unreached”, Ramos said the regional health office has a peer educator training program for persons between 15 to 34 years old – a segment of the population which appears to have rising cases of HIV infections.
The nongovernment organization (NGO) Save the Children is also sharing its manpower to DOH Region 6; as community-based simulator (CBS) motivators, they conduct HIV screening in communities.
While HIV is primarily a sexually transmitted infection, it can also be spread by contact with infected blood or from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding.
Nationwide as of December 2018, recorded HIV cases reached 62,029 since recording began in 1984.
An average of 32 cases are detected each day.
Last year, said Ramos, DOH Region 6 also tapped Sangguniang Kabataan officials in the region as peer educators and CBS motivators on HIV/AIDS.
“Ang target naton mabutangan gid treatment hubs ang mga provincial hospitals, the remaining DOH hospitals and maka-establish more social hygiene clinics. Ini sila ang mga areas nga mga maka-catch sang aton target population,” said Ramos.
DOH Region 6 is also poised to expand “sundown clinics” that cater to target or vulnerable populations outside of the regular (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) clinic hours.
In this city, DOH is partnering with the Iloilo City Social Hygiene Clinic and the NGO Family Planning Organization of the Philippines which is actively promoting safe sex practices.
On top of these, DOH is also training medical technologists on HIV testing.
“Nag-allot gid kita sang budget para ma-capacitate naton sila to conduct HIV tests para madasig ang diagnosis,” said Ramos./PN
