Hontiveros Undergoes HIV Testing at Senate for World AIDS Day

Image Caption: Sen. Risa Hontiveros undergoes HIV testing at the Senate courtesy of non-government organization LoveYourself.Photo: LoveYourself

Local non-government organization LoveYourself and the Pasay City Social Hygienic Clinic spearheaded an HIV testing campaign at the Senate of the Philippines on Tuesday, November 29, to commemorate World AIDS Day.

The project aims to raise awareness about the disease, underscore the importance of early detection, and respond to the initiative of the Office of the Senator Risa Hontiveros, who is the Senate Committee Chairperson on Health and Demography pushing for amendments of Republic Act No. 8504 or the Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998.

Through the campaign, Hontiveros hopes that people will start to look at HIV testing as a regular diagnostic tool to determine one’s health status—no different from the likes of blood pressure check-up and urinalysis.

“An HIV test could spell difference between life and death… Bawasan o tanggalin natin totally ang diskriminasyon at mas itaas natin yung health consciousness at solidarity sa isa’t-isa, [enrich] moral support and mutual support sa paghahanap natin ng isang healthy lifestyle,” the senator said.

HIV cases rising exponentially

“The Philippines today is the only country whose [HIV/AIDS] numbers are not only increasing, but are increasing exponentially,” LoveYourself senior director Christopher M. Lagman citing recent data from the Department of Health.

Current DOH data covering the period July-October 2016 states that there were 3,112 newly diagnosed people living with HIV, in which the National Capital Region posted an alarming rate of 41% followed by Region 4A (Calabarzon) at 15%.

Last Sunday, the advocacy group tested 211 individuals in Malate, Manila, and 13 were diagnosed to be living with the disease.

Free and confidential HIV testing is available to Filipinos at social hygiene clinics and community centers, such as LoveYourself.

According to LoveYourself in a statement, the NGO also provides counseling, education, and treatment in its two clinics: on Shaw Boulevard near Starmall, and on Taft-Gil Puyat near the LRT station. These clinics are open from Wednesdays to Saturdays, from noon until 7 p.m. and on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Bianca Rose Dabu/BM, GMA News

(Source: GMAnetwork.com)