BAGUIO CITY (PIA) – The banner project of the National AIDS, STI Prevention, and Control Program (NASPCP) in the Cordilla region for 2024 expands services to reduce the spread of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/ Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and improve access to health care.
During the second semester meeting of the expanded Regional AIDS Assistance Team (RAAT) on August 29, 2024, NASPCP Regional manager Darwin Babon reported updates on Project NAMNAMA, or Nurturing Awareness, Mobilizing Networks, and Advocating to Mitigate the Impact of AIDS and sexually transmitted infection in the region.
Babon said its newest initiative is the “ NAMNAMA on Wheels”, a mobile HIV testing and HIV Pantry service, which aims to bridge the gaps in health care accessibility, particularly for communities with limited access to healthcare facilities.
The mobile health service vehicle was donated by Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. through the Global Fund, purposely for the conduct of HIV screening in the schools, communities, and workplaces. Aside from HIV screening, other services offered include STI and HIV-AIDS awareness, and distribution of condoms and lubricants.
Babon said another component of the NAMNAMA project is adopting schools and a community in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
The Department of Health in the Cordillera in partnership with the municipality of Kibungan, Benguet, reached out to students and teachers of Mocgao Integrated School in Barangay Badeo. While the school or community has no HIV case, the project aims to equip learners with the proper knowledge of HIV, prepare them when they go to urban areas, and ensure that they are able to protect themselves, he explained.
“The project NAMNAMA’s Adopt a School and Community is not just a one time, big time project because the school and the barangay officials will execute a memorandum of understanding for the partnership implementation of the project.”
The barangay and school will receive a Php300,000.00 grant under project NAMNAMA in the form of various information communication technology equipment and capacity building activities for the teachers, local health workers, and officials for the next three years.
The ICT equipment will be used during health promotion activities. Also included are mental health kit such as sports equipment, musical instruments, and board games.
“As counterpart, the barangay will establish a mini-NAMNAMA clinic which will serve as a health promotion library, where all updated health materials will be available and students can read as reference”, he said.
Babon clarified that Project NAMNAMA is not just about HIV/AIDS. We have to recognize that there are lots of social factors resulting to the increase of HIV and AIDS, one of which is poverty, and second is lack of information, so we need to strengthen their disaster preparedness plan. (MAWC, PIA-CAR)
