BORACAY – People living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (PLHIV) could soon avail themselves of antiretroviral (ARV) therapy for out-patients at a government hospital here.
The Ciriaco S. Tirol Hospital is the proposed satellite treatment facility of the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital (DRSTMH), the designated Department of Health (DOH) treatment hub in the province of Aklan.
A DOH treatment hub has an organized HIV AIDS Core Team (HACT) that facilitates out-patient and in-patient prevention, treatment, care and support services to PLHIV.
The satellite treatment facility or the primary HIV Care Clinic aims to increase access and maximize coverage by bringing services closer to key geographic areas such as Boracay Island.
From 1986 to June 2020, Aklan recorded 272 confirmed HIV cases. Of this figure, 16 cases were reported from January to June of this year.
ARV drugs stop the progression of HIV. By taking them properly, PLHIV can live longer.
The DRTSMH-HIV AIDS Clinic conducted a two-day orientation on Nov. 13 and 14 on health protocols and treatment guidelines in preparations for the Boracay hospital to become a DRSTMH satellite treatment facility for PLHIV.
Two other HIV Care Clinics operating in the region are the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines – Community Health Care Birthing Center and Laboratory in Iloilo City, and the Roxas City Health Office in the province of Capiz.
Aside from DRSTMH, DOH-HIV treatment facilities in Western Visayas are The Medical City Iloilo and Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City, Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City and Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique.
There have been 4,017 HIV cases in Western Visayas reported to HIV/AIDS & ART Registry of the Philippines (HARP) since 1986.
Iloilo City had 23 percent of the total cases or 919, followed by Iloilo province (22 percent or 817 cases), Negros Occidental (18 percent or 716 cases), Bacolod City (16 percent or 635 cases), Capiz (seven percent or 298 cases), Antique (six percent or 231 cases) and Guimaras (two percent or 75 cases), according to the latest DOH surveillance report.
A total of 210 HIV cases were also reported in Western Visayas from January to June 2020.
There were 78,559 people with HIV at the end of June 2020 reported to the HARP. Of those diagnosed, 94 percent were male and six percent were female./PN
