Pangasinan: The top health official of Pangasinan proposes the establishment of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) center, where confirmatory tests, counseling, and tracing for suspected cases, as among ways to address rising cases.
According to Philippines News Agency, acting Provincial Health Officer Dr. Maria Vivian Villar-Espino cited the need for intensified education and the establishment of an HIV hub since as of the moment, 10 out of the 14 provincial government-run hospitals in Pangasinan are accredited to do initial testing. Meanwhile, confirmatory tests for HIV positive individuals are done at the Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC) in Dagupan City, as the only accredited facility for the confirmatory testing and administering of the antiretroviral therapy, if needed, for confirmed cases.
Espino said there are 53 new HIV cases in the province from January to July this year, higher than the 42 in the same period last year. Of the total number, 13 are in Urdaneta City, eight in San Carlos City, four in Lingayen, eight in Mangaldan, five in Malasiqui, three in Alaminos City, two each in Bayambang and Binmaley, five in Calasiao, and three in Villasis. The data do not include those tested in Dagupan City, a chartered city, and those who directly got tested in R1MC, she said. She added the most common mode of transmission of the virus is male-to-male sex, male-to-female sex, mother-to-child transmission, and some unknown means.
Espino said they have intensified the campaign in schools and training for health workers. 'Be loyal, practice safe sex, there should be sex education, and encourage testing,' she said.
Meanwhile, Vice Governor Mark Ronald Lambino, in a separate interview, said the establishment of a hub will help address not just the medical aspect of being HIV positive, but also the psychological aspect. 'We know that being HIV positive is not just a physical condition, but it also has a corresponding impact mentally on our countrymen who are positive, as well as the reaction or sometimes stigma against them,' he said.
He added that alongside the hub is the continuing education about the disease to further break the stigma. 'So, when it comes to the HIV hub that they are proposing, we will include education and health in that aspect because, like I said, it's not just a medical issue, but also a social and a psychological issue, and education is needed, not just for HIV positive people, but also for our citizens to be informed about the status of being HIV positive, what are the limitations, what are the capacities, what kind of discrimination they face, whether they should be discriminated against or not. These are the things that need to be studied and informed to our citizens,' he said.
