by Paul Jaysent Fos, Romblon News/PR | Thursday, 02 June 2016
Department of Health (DOH) – MIMAROPA (Oriental/Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) started yesterday its 5-day Training for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) Counselling and Testing (HCT) at the Best Western La Corona, Hotel in Malate, Manila from May 30-June 3, 2016, with the objective of providing certification to 25 health workers from various hospitals and clinics of the region.
“HIV counselling and testing is the starting point to HIV prevention, support and treatment services. It is fundamental to all HIV program that is why it is crucial that counsellors must be competent and psychologically fit for the position,” Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo stated.
“We need to increase awareness, education and the capacity of our health workers to assist the increasing number of people living with HIV (PLHIV). In short, we need more counselors to handle social hygiene clinics, counselling and testing centers,” he emphasized.
The participants will undergo a strict training to cope up and address the increasing demand for HIV counseling and testing services. “Frontliners in HIV advocacy such as health workers and HIV counselors must be updated on how to effectively deliver the counseling and testing services,” Janairo added.
According to the latest DOH report, from 2000 to 2004, age of HIV cases ranges from 30 to 39 years old; from 2005 to 2009, it was 25 to 34 yo; and from 2010 to 2015, it was 20 to 29 years.
Records from the 2015 HIV/AIDS and ART Registry of the Philippines (HARP), more 18-24 years old are getting HIV in Palawan Province. The basic knowledge on HIV is very low, initiation to sex starts as early as 15 years old, first anal sex at 16 yo, first condom use at 17 yo and first HIV test at 21 yo.
The HCT certification will be provided by the National HIV AIDS STI Prevention and Control Program (NASPCP) of the DOH – National Center for Disease Prevention and Control (NCDPC) to the successful trainees.
There are currently 17 HIV counselling and testing centers in MIMAROPA located in –
– Puerto Galera – Social Hygiene Clinic (Landline: (043) 4420182 / Mobile: 09178252929);
– Puerto Princesa City – Social Hygiene Clinic (Landline: (048) 4346581/Mobile: 09189466686), Puerto Princesa City Provincial Health Office (Landline: (48) 434-9996), Ospital ng Palawan, Palawan Red Top Center, (Mobile: 0920 440 8720), Agape Rural Program, Inc. (Mobile: 0917 543 2150), MMH Coop Hospital (Mobile: 0917 928 5379) and Amos Tara! Community Center
– Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro – Social Hygiene Clinic (Mobile: 0908 529 9183)
– Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro – Social Hygiene Clinic (Mobile: 0932 877 7011)
– San Jose, Occidental Mindoro – Social Hygiene Clinic (Mobile: 0920 931 9336)
– Sta. Cruz, Marinduque – Social Hygiene Clinic (Mobile: 0917 552 4912)
– Boac, Marinduque – Social Hygiene Clinic (Mobile: 0998 196 2489)
– Odiongan, Romblon – Social Hygiene Clinic (Mobile: 0918 959 1565)
– Coron, Palawan – Social Hygiene Clinic (Mobile: 0908 893 7202)
– El Nido, Palawan – Social Hygiene Clinic (Mobile: 0917 801 1925)
– Narra, Palawan – Narra Social Hygiene Clinic (Mobile: 0920 414 8050)
