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Friday, March 29, 2024

Manila beefs up HIV/AIDS drive with new center

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The Manila City government has opened the Klinika Rosario Sundown Clinic as part of the city’s intensified campaign aimed to reduce the number of human immunodeficiency virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) cases not only in the city but in the country as well.

Mayor Joseph Estrada said the new clinic will encourage people living with HIV/AIDS to continue their treatment.

The opening of the facility is the capital city’s response to the rapidly increasing number of HIV cases in the country, which is reported to have the fastest growing HIV incidence in the Asia Pacific region.

Klinika Rosario Sundown Clinic is located in Rosario Reyes Health Center, San Andres, Malate, under Manila Health Department’s Manila Social Hygiene Clinic.

It will be open from 2 pm to 10 pm to cater to the “most at risk population” in Manila, particularly the entertainment establishment workers.

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“We are encouraging the public to take advantage of our medical facilities, which offer a free consultation, testing, and treatment to contain and arrest the spread of this alarming health threat,” Estrada said during the opening ceremony.

The Manila chief executive said HIV cases continue to rise; worse, many of the cases are among individuals who are afraid to get themselves tested. 

The Department of Health has observed the rising cases of HIV infection in the Philippines which has grown by 174 percent.

Moreover, estimates show that for this year alone, around 31 individuals are infected by the HIV in the country everyday, mostly from ages 15 to 34.

Estrada said to fight HIV/AIDS, the city government will also intensify information campaign to prevent the spread of the deadly disease.

“There is hope, and there is a very big chance to live a normal life even if you are HIV positive. We have solutions to affected people with the disease,” Estrada said.

The facility will be manned by a nurse counselor, an HIV-proficient medical technologist, two case managers, five outreach workers for males having sex with males (MSM), two transgender women, and three “Young Key Affected Population” (YKAP) workers. They shall demonstrate a stigma-free, non-discriminatory and safe environment for all clients, the mayor said.

Since 2007, when the first HIV case was detected in the MSHC, the city government has been conducting information drives, counseling and testing, training peer educators, providing diagnosis and treatment, and collaborating with other civic organizations for similar activities.

Last year, the Sta. Ana Hospital was converted into an  HIV treatment hub equipped with HIV-infected blood analysis laboratory and specially-trained medical professionals and nurses for handling, counseling and treating HIV-infected patients.

According to the DOH, 56,275 HIV cases have been recorded since 1984, with more than 3,700 (6.7%)  from the City of Manila. 

“We are fully committed to win the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic and to provide access to treatment whoever needs it. We will not stop until this epidemic is fully eradicated,” Estrada assured.

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