NAGA CITY, Dec. 3 (PIA)-- This year, Nagueños heeded the worldwide call for “global solidarity and shared responsibility” during this year’s commemoration of World AIDS Day.
On Dec.1, Tuesday, this city government thru the City Health Office conducted various activities to raise awareness concerning the Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or AIDS.
One of the highlights of the activity was the Mobile HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) screening where a team consisting of the Naga City Health Office (NCHO) medical technologists, thru the City Health Office Hygiene clinic and trained CBS (Community-Based Screening) motivators visited selected barangays and enjoined target residents to undergo voluntary HIV testing.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) -Philippines, an NGO based organization also joined the team in the said activity.
“We are pleased with the result of the barangay HIV mobile testing as residents were very cooperative. We allotted one hour per barangay and we are happy with the turn out. We conduct this activity every year to raise awareness. Most importantly we have to remember that aside from COVID, we have another pandemic- the rising cases of HIV AIDS,” Naga City Hygiene Clinic Chief Grace Guevarra said.
The team was able to test 195 residents coming from Barangays Lerma, Igualdad, Pacol, Bagumbayan Sur, Concepcion Peque and Sta. Cruz, all in Naga City.
Guevarra added that among the age groups, adults between 24 to 32 have the highest prevalence of AIDS. Men who have sex with men (MSMs) based on the record, are several times more likely to acquire HIV as compared with men and women.
“If we try to look at it, this age bracket is what we call the productive age. So we enjoin them to submit themselves to testing especially if they are among those we call “vulnerable” or with high risk to be infected. If they are working, all they have to do is submit themselves to testing since this is very confidential, then return to what they are doing,” the health personnel stated.
As of press time, Naga City has recorded a total of 36 cases positive with HIV-AIDS.
Based on the data recorded by the Department of Health Bicol from January to September this year, the province of Camarines Sur has a total of 52 cases, followed by Albay with 50, Sorsogon-23, Camarines Norte-14, Masbate-10 and Catanduanes with 3 positive cases.
World AIDS Day is commemorated every December 1 each year since 1988 to raise awareness on the causes and effects of AIDS caused by the spread of HIV infection, its treatment and available government services to those who are infected. (LSMacatangay, with reports from BRivera, PIAV-Camarines Sur)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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