HIV/AIDS treatment hub to open in Southern Leyte

MAASIN CITY, Jan 2 (PIA) --  The Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome  (HIV/AIDS)Treatment Hub in Southern Leyte is set to open this January 2020, Southern Leyte Provincial Health Officer  Dr. Ionne L. Castillones reported.

The treatment facility will offer testing and treatment services including medicines for free, Castillones said.

“The  facility will also include counselling for patients to know what HIV is all about, its treatment and how to prevent it,” she said in a short talk the other day at the provincial hospital here.

Its goal is to make people aware of their HIV status especially those engaged in risky activities, such as men having sex with men, to mention one, saying that “this is a voluntary procedure with the consent of the patient, among his or her immediate relatives.”

“We are ready to cater to patients with HIV/AIDS,” Castillones reiterated.

The facility will be housed at the Salvacion Oppus Yṅiguez Memorial Provincial Hospital (SOYMPH) in Barangay Dongon, this city.

On the other hand, in preparation for the opening of the treatment hub, all SOYMPH health personnel underwent a five-day orientation last December 9-13, 2019, Medical Technologist Bianca Pangilinan said.

Pangilinan who was one of the resource speakers during the orientation said that some of the topics discussed were the treatment and counselling procedures, including the blood testing.

“Each health personnel must know how to handle an HIV patient because we are here to educate, stop the stigma and inform the people how HIV can cause the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome,” she said.

AIDS is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition that can damage the immune system, in which HIV interferes with the body’s ability to fight organisms that cause diseases.

The other speaker during the 5-day orientation was SOYMPH Nurse  Searchie Baylan, Pangilinan said.

As of May 2019, the cumulative HIV/AIDS cases in Maasin City reached 24 since 1984.

While the province of Southern Leyte, had 91 HIV/AIDS cases  - cumulative from 1984 up to March of 2019, it was learned. (rgc/PIA8-SoLeyte)

 

 

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