DOH eyes more testing amid spike in HIV cases among PH youth
The Department of Health (DOH) is pushing for an increase in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing in the Philippines as the number of young Filipinos infected with it reportedly increased by 500%.
"Napakabata po ang mga nagkakaroon ng HIV. Yung mga kabataan, 12 years old na nga na-report recently," said DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Wednesday during the launch of their Patient Appointment System (PAS).
(The people who are getting HIV are so young. A case reported recently was 12 years old. That's too young.)
Herbosa emphasized that there's a need to raise awareness among the youth, of whom only 61% have undergone testing for HIV.
'There's still a lot of people na kailangan magpatest… Ayaw po, baka takot sila magpatest, ayaw nila magpatest. Takot sila kung anong malalaman nila pag positive sila. Pero very important na magpatest din yun,' he added.
(There are still a lot of people that need to be tested… They don't want to perhaps they are scared to be tested and don't want to be tested. They are scared of finding out that they are positive. But it's important that they get tested.)
Viral load
The Philippine health chief also emphasized the importance of using anti-retroviral (ARV) medicine to help mitigate cases of HIV in the country.
This, as Herbosa explained, that management through ARV would help manage patients' viral load and make their HIV non-transmittable.
'Pag mababa ang viral load mo, parang normal na tao, hindi ka nakaka-transmit [ng HIV]. Undetectable, untransmissible… So hindi ka makakahawa, hindi ka public health risk,' he shared.
(If your viral load is low, you're similar to a normal person and will not be able to transmit [HIV]. Undetectable, untransmissible… So you can't transmit it, and you are not a public health risk.)
Herbosa noted that retesting for HIV was recommended every 6 months, while refilling of ARVs occurs every 3 months.
Patient Appointment System
The DOH chief, meanwhile, said that getting HIV tests and availing ARV treatment have now become more accesible with their new Patient Appointment System (PAS).
'Sa pamamagitan nitong PAS, mas padadaliin ang pagkuha ng libreng ARV drug para sa mga Persons Living with HIV, lalo pa't mahalaga na regular nila itong nakukuha… Makakaasa kayo na kaagapay ng pamahalaan ang Kagawaran at ilalapit pa ang serbisyo, hindi lamang sa usapin ng HIV, kundi pati na rin sa iba pang usaping pangkalusugan,' he shared.
(Through the PAS, persons living with HIV can find it easier to avail themselves of their free ARV drug, especially since it's important that they get it regularly… You can expect that the government will cooperate with the Department to make services more accessible, not just with HIV but even with other health issues.)
The DOH's PAS system has been launched in three areas of the San Lazaro Hospital: the Employee Medical Clinic (EMC), the Physical Medicine and Rehab Department (PMRD), and the H4 Department for ARV refills and HIV testing.
Herbosa also noted that self-test kits will also soon be available, while testing and ARV refills are offered for free at the San Lazaro hospital.
'Pwede kayong pumunta dito… Libre at ligtas po ang serbisyo. Kailangan namin ng tulong niyo,' Herbosa said.
(You can come here… The services are free and safe. We need your help.)
The PAS system is accessible through patientappointment.doh.gov.ph for selected services in San Lazaro Hospital, Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, and Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
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