2 more HIV-Aids treatment hubs in Central Luzon eyed

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2015/06/01/2-more-hiv-aids-treatment-hubs-central-luzon-eyed-410767
• Monday, June 1, 2015

(CLJD-PIA 3)

CLARK FREEPORT -- The Department of Health (DOH) eyes within the year the establishment of two additional treatment hubs in Central Luzon for individuals with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Aids).

“We want to expand because of the big population of Central Luzon. These proposed hubs are located in Nueva Ecija and Bataan,” DOH HIV Medical Coordinator Maria Eloisa Vidar said during Thursday’s regional launch of High Impact Five (HIF).

Existing treatment hubs are at the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital in the City of San Fernando and James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital in Olongapo City.

Moreover, two satellite treatment hubs are also being planned.

Relative to this, DOH encourages the Central Luzon populace to avail of the confidential HIV testing and counseling in over 91 testing centers throughout the region.

“The stigma of testing is there in the communities and in all settings and that is the reason why we need to put a little strategy on our regular advocacy and involve different sectors including community-based organizations. There is also a need to identify (and train) peer educators,” Vidar stressed.

Figures from DOH show that 1,977 individuals have been diagnosed with HIV in Central Luzon from 1984 to present with an average age of 28.

Of this number, 1,769 cases were classified as asymptomatic while the remainder or 208 led to Aids.

Males having sex with males, people in prostitution, and people who inject drugs constitute most of the cases.

“Before HIV-Aids is a death sentence but now it is eminently treatable,” Dr. Julian Bilous of UNICEF Philippines told reporters attending the HIF launch.

“HIF is an approach that focuses on five critical Universal Health Care interventions with high impact on health, prioritizing the poor, and providing tangible outputs,” DOH Regional Director Leonita Gorgolon said.

It seeks to reduce maternal, infant, and under five mortality; reduce the burden of HIV and AIDS; and establish service delivery networks.

In Central Luzon, priority provinces are Aurora, Pampanga and Zambales.

These were identified as among those vulnerable to shocks and disasters where the marginally non-poor can easily slide to poverty and the poor can slide deeper to poverty.