LUCENA CITY (PIA) — The Department of Health (DOH) Center for Health Development – CALABARZON emphasized the importance of collective effort to combat HIV/AIDS stigma with the launch of the Biyaheng Kalusugan campaign on World AIDS Day.
DOH Assistant Secretary Maylene Beltran said Biyaheng Kalusugan is anchored upon the ‘Health is Life’ campaign of the department which directly involves various sectors and stakeholders in the fight against Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Virus (AIDS) by promoting healthy sexual behaviors thru various fora and discussions.
DOH Assistant Secretary Maylene Beltran led the celebration of the 35th World AIDS Day in Quezon Province last December 1 with a call for the involvement of various sectors in promoting healthy sexual behaviors. (PB/Health and Education Promotion Unit – DOH CHD Calabarzon/Facebook)
“We will diagnose 95 percent of HIV-positive individuals, provide antiretroviral therapy for 95 percent of those who were diagnosed, and achieve viral suppression for 95 percent of those treated—that is the end goal of ending AIDS by 2030,” Beltran said.
According to the DOH Epidemiology Bureau – National HIV/AIDS & STI Surveillance and Strategic Information Unit, new HIV infections in the Philippines rose to an average of 418 percent every year from 2010 to 2022.
In Calabarzon, the Health department logged 1,574 HIV cases and has killed 49 patients.
With the rising number of reported HIV cases, DOH Calabarzon Local Health Support Division chief, Dr. Ma. Elena Castillo-Gonzales highlighted the importance of properly diagnosing individuals considered most at risk of infection.
“Let us join the conversations promoting safe sexual behaviors in this fight against HIV and AIDS. Let us work together in educating our communities about risky sexual behaviors, and how we can protect ourselves against HIV and AIDS,” she said.
The health department has also committed in strengthening its information campaigns to emphasize the importance of getting tested and treated for the life-threatening disease.
Castillo-Gonzales continues, “We have the collective responsibility to ensure our community’s sexual and reproductive health to end the HIV epidemic. We need to take care of our sexual health because each life is important.”
Non-government organization EpiC Philippines Project Director Teresita Marie Bagasao, believes cooperation among countries to warrant the significant gains in HIV/AIDS prevention.
“For us, this is important because we feel that this [World AIDS Day] is a day to re-commit ourselves to the continuous effort to end AIDS [and] to provide inclusive services to our kababayans.” Bagasao said.
DOH Calabarzon Local Health Support Division chief, Dr. Ma. Elena Castillo-Gonzales has called for concerted efforts in promoting safe sexual behavior. (PB/Health Education and Promotion Unit – DOH CHD CALABARZON)
