BAGUIO CITY (PIA) – – With HIV/AIDS still a health concern, not only in the country but globally, the Department of Health Center for Health and Development – Cordillera (DOH – CAR) intensifies awareness and prevention campaign down to the community level.
DOH CAR Regional Director Dr. Rio Magpantay and HIV/AIDS Regional Program Coordinator Darwin Babon laid down their 2024 action plan in a recent Kapihan media forum, here.
Part of the DOH – CAR action plan is to expand HIV Treatment Facilities and HIV Diagnostic Algorithm Confirmatory Sites in the different parts of the region.
So far, there are already five HIV treatment facilities in the region, namely: the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, the Baguio City Health Services Office, the Notre Dame de Chartes Hospital, all in Baguio City; the Far North Luzon General Hospital and Training Center in Luna, Apayao, and the Abong ti Namnama in Poblacion, La Paz Abra. Confirmation of the Benguet General Hospital in La Trinidad, Benguet is already in the pipeline.
The DOH – CAR is also set to increase demand – generation activities for HIV prevention strategies, such as condom + lubricant use, HIV testing services and provision of HIV Pre – Exposure Prophylaxis in various settings, as well as HIV program monitoring and evaluation at the community level through networking and partnership with LGUs, civil society organizations, and community – based HIV and development organizations.
The DOH – CAR also aims to capacitate more HIV counselors, peer educators and mobilizers down at the local government unit (LGU) or community level.
For HIV /AIDS situation in the region, Babon reported 99 confirmed cases from January 1 to August of this year, and 1,034 confirmed cases since monitoring started in 1984.
Babon also shared that HIV cases remain high among younger age group with 34 of the 99 cases this year belonging to the 15 – 24 years old bracket, while 41 are at the 25 – 34 years old bracket.
For the month of August alone, there were 18 new confirmed cases recorded, wherein seven are 15 – 24 years old and five are 25 – 34 years old, the DOH – CAR record shows.
The number of HIV confirmed cases for 2023 is still expected to increase when the September to December data come in, and with the majority of cases belonging to the younger age group, there is a need for strengthened awareness and prevention campaign, especially to sexually active young population, Babon stressed.
Magpantay also shared that they are also looking into tapping the newly elected Sangguniang Kabataan for the strengthening HIV awareness and prevention campaign given the increasing trend of HIV infection among the young adults.
Given the fact that HIV infection among the younger population is high, strengthening HIV awareness and prevention among these age brackets is very important, Magpantay stressed. **JDP/CCD-PIA CAR
