Philippines Marks World’s First AIDS Hour
Metro Manila: Spreading the message of hope to stay strong amid the incurable disease, the Department of Health (DOH), in collaboration with the local government of Quezon City, observed the world’s first AIDS Hour on Saturday at the Liwasang Aurora of the Quezon City Memorial Circle (QCMC).
AIDS Hour, fixed for 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., also coincided with the 33rd International AIDS Candlelight Memorial (IACM), organized in the memory of those who have died from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), CNN Philippines reported.
Health Sec. Janette Garin reportedly said it was essential to end the stigma attached with the disease, and this was one of the main objectives.
“The launch of the first ever AIDS Hour in the world is a concrete example of the Philippines doing our part in the global effort against HIV and AIDS,” Garin was quoted as saying.
“We need to create awareness because many people living with HIV do not know what health services are available to them. Others are afraid to consult, or are socially stigmatized for being HIV-positive. We hope the AIDS Hour movement will spread not just in our country but globally.”
Aside from the candlelighting ceremony, IACM was also renamed on Saturday as the Philippine AIDS Candlelight Memorial (PACM) to boost nationwide efforts on public information drive on the disease, the news report said.
Garin further informed that AIDS Hour will now be observed annually, and the DOH will select a host city to spearhead the HIV awareness campaign. Filipino communities overseas will also participate in the landmark project, as every candle lit embodies the “struggle to overcome HIV and AIDS.”
Meanwhile, DOH announced that the free and confidential HIV testing is still available in social hygiene clinics run by local government units (LGUs) and in 22 treatment hubs nationwide. Laboratory confirmation of HIV seropositivity also allows patients to avail of the PhilHealth Outpatient HIV/AIDS Treatment (OHAT) package, CNN Philippines reported .
(Source: FilipinoTimes.ae)