Latest news with #TedHerbosa
GMA Network
21-06-2025
- Health
- GMA Network
Capiz confirms it has recorded first case of mpox
The province of Capiz said it has recorded its first case of monkeypox (mpox). This was announced by the Provincial Health Office (PHO), according to a report by Arlyn Joy Mendoza of Super Radyo Kalibo on Dobol B TV on Saturday. Of the seven suspected cases of mpox in Capiz subjected to further testing by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), one tested positive, and another one tested negative, the PHO said. The confirmed mpox case is now in home isolation and recovering. Meanwhile, the patient's close contacts are being monitored. The PHO is coordinating with the 17 local health offices, five government hospitals, and Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTS) in the province for close monitoring and immediate response regarding suspected mpox cases. The Capiz Provincial Government meanwhile advised the public to stay calm and follow health protocols especially those pertaining to proper hygiene to prevent contracting mpox. The province of Aklan on the other hand is still mpox-free as of posting time. Mpox is a disease caused by the monkeypox virus. A zoonotic disease, mpox is transmitted to humans from animals. This disease can be acquired through direct contact with body fluids or skin-to-skin contact, including touching the rash or hives of a person who has it. According to the World Health Organization, symptoms of mpox include a skin rash or mucosal lesions, accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes. As of today, there is no treatment for mpox, but there are vaccines to protect one against the virus. Unfortunately, these vaccines are not yet available in the Philippines. Health Secretary Ted Herbosa earlier said that patients with mpox will be given supportive care where their symptoms will be treated. "Kapag nilalagnat sila, bibigyan sila ng paracetamol. Kung may makati sa kanila, anti-kati at aalagan 'yung mga lesions nila," Herbosa said. ("When cases have a fever, they will be given paracetamol. If they itch, they will be given anti-itch ointment, and doctors will treat their lesions.") Doctors can also prescribe antiviral medications, especially in cases with comorbid conditions. —KG, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
10-06-2025
- Health
- GMA Network
99% protection vs HIV: What is Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis or PrEP and where can you get it?
The Philippines is currently facing a sharp rise in HIV cases, with a staggering 500% increase reported among the youth. Based on the latest data from the Department of Health, there are 148,831 recorded cases of HIV in the Philippines. As the country faces a surge in HIV cases, DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa has urged the public to use condoms, lubricants, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication to reduce the risk of HIV infection. In a previous interview with GMA News Online, Dr. Deano Reyes, an LGBTQ+ health doctor and the medical director of Hara Clinic, a holistic gender and sexual health clinic, said PrEP is among the most effective ways to stay protected against HIV. 'There is this medication called PrEP where you take one pill every day, and if you take it properly, it has a 99% protection against HIV,' Reyes explained. In PrEP, patients regularly take one pill every day. There is also an event-driven PrEP, where patients take two pills of PrEP between two and 24 hours before they anticipate having sex. But it's important to remember that while PrEP offers 99% protection against HIV, PrEP only protects against HIV. It doesn't offer protection from other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like chlamydia, syphilis, or gonorrhea. (Condoms are only 95% effective at protecting against HIV and other STIs) In the Philippines, the primary PrEP medicine is a combination of two antiviral drugs: Emtricitabine (FTC) and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF). According to LoveYourself Inc., a non-government organization in the Philippines that offers free HIV testing, counseling, and treatment, PrEP works by blocking HIV enzymes, thereby preventing the virus from establishing an infection. In the country, PrEP is commonly known by its brand name Truvada, and is taken before potential exposure to HIV. The recommended dosage typically ranges from 100mg of Emtricitabine and 150mg of Tenofovir to 200mg of Emtricitabine and 300mg of Tenofovir, depending on the patient's age and body weight. Where to get PrEP? PrEP is available in some medical facilities in the Philippines. Here is where you can avail it: Love Yourself Inc.: Love Yourself offers free PrEP. To avail of PrEP, simply sign up using the forms available on their social media account. Facebook. My Hub Cares: My Hub Cares is another medical institution that also offers free PrEP. You can avail of their medicine by going to their clinics in Pasay, Ortigas and Alabang or you can have it delivered to your home. Website. Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines (SHIP) - SHIP is a non-government organization that also offers free PrEP through their Sail Clinics located in Makati and Cavite. Facebook. Private health care facilities - PrEP is also offered in private health clinics in the Philippines, such as Hara Clinic, Medi Prime Clinic and Pulse Clinic Manila, among others. Get tested, stay protected. — LA, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
09-06-2025
- Health
- GMA Network
DOH donates medical supplies, offers health services during Brigada Eskwela 2025
As part of the Marcos administration's push for healthier lifestyle among youth, the Department of Health rolled out Monday health packages and medical services during the opening of Brigada Eskwela 2025, recognizing the vital role of schools in supporting student well-being. Led by Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, the DOH honored 83 schools nationwide as "Health Champions" during the launch at Bacacay East Central School in Albay. The schools received "Bawat Bata Malusog" (Every Child Healthy) packages, which include essential health tools such as blood pressure monitors, weighing scales, first aid kits, and other clinic supplies. Additional kits tailored for teachers' self-care and physical activity were given to Last Mile Schools. The DOH also distributed disaster readiness kits to bolster emergency preparedness. The Health Department also provided "Bawat Bata Mahalaga" (Every Child is Important) kits to Jamorawon National High School, San Juan Integrated School, Rinconada National Technical Vocational School, and Fulgueras Elementary School. As the Department of Education (DepEd) prepares school facilities for the upcoming academic year, the DOH is working in parallel to ensure the health of teachers and school staff. Free services provided include medical consultations, vaccinations, X-rays, laboratory tests, HIV screening, mental health services, family planning, deworming, cancer education, and sessions on health literacy covering topics such as nutrition, physical activity, environmental health, substance use prevention, sexual and reproductive health, and violence and injury prevention. 'Ang ating suportang pangkalusugan sa ating mga paaralan ay paghubog na rin natin sa mas malusog na bagong henerasyon. Mahalagang hindi lang ang gusali ng paaralan ang inihahanda, kundi pati ang kalusugan ng mga guro at school personnel na siyang nangangasiwa ng eskwelahan kung saan namamalagi ang kabataan,' said Secretary Teodoro Herbosa. (Our health support for schools is also our way of shaping a healthier new generation. It's important not only to prepare school buildings, but also the health of teachers and personnel who manage the environment where our youth spend much of their time.) Since the launch of the DOH's Healthy Learning Institutions program in 2022, it has reached 1,457 schools across 55 provinces and cities nationwide. The initiative aims to help schools create environments that nurture the health of both learners and educators. DOH noted that these effort aligns with the Universal Health Care Law, which recognizes schools as key venues for promoting the health of young people and education sector employees. —Sherylin Untalan/AOL, GMA Integrated News
Time of India
04-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Philippines warns of health emergency as HIV cases soar
Manila: Philippine medical authorities on Tuesday warned of a looming " public health emergency " as HIV infections have soared this year, with young males especially hard-hit. On average, 57 new cases a day were tallied in the country of 117 million people over the first three months of 2025, a 50 percent jump from a year earlier, health department data shows. "We now have the highest number of new cases here in the Western Pacific," Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said in a video message released Tuesday. "What is frightening is, our youth make up many of the new cases," he said. "It would be in our interest to (declare) a public health emergency, a national emergency for HIV to mobilise the entire society, the whole of government to help us in this campaign to reduce the number of new HIV cases," Herbosa added. The health department said 95 percent of newly reported cases were male, with 33 percent aged 15-24 and 47 percent aged 25-34. The government did not explain the causes behind the surge, which it said had set back government attempts to hit global targets set by a United Nations campaign to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Under Philippine law, the president can declare a health emergency if an epidemic poses a threat to national security. The start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 was the last time that was done. Just 55 percent of those living with HIV in the Philippines have been diagnosed, the health department said, while only 66 percent of those diagnosed are on life-saving antiretroviral therapy. Sexual contact remains the predominant mode of transmission, with the bulk of cases since 2007 attributed to men having sex with men. HIV cases have been on the rise in the Philippines since 2021, with 252,800 people estimated to be living with HIV in the country by the end of this year.
GMA Network
04-06-2025
- General
- GMA Network
Here's where you can get tested for HIV in the Philippines
Human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is a prevailing health issue in the Philippines, with the number of HIV cases among young Filipinos increasing by 500 percent. With this surge, the Department of Health (DOH) requested the declaration of a national public health emergency for HIV. "Five hundred percent increase po tayo ng HIV cases sa mga edad 15 hanggang 25. In fact, ang pinakabatang na-diagnose natin ay batang 12-anyos sa probinsya ng Palawan," DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa said in a video message posted on Facebook. "Sa datos natin tayo na ang pinakamataas na new cases sa Western Pacific Region. Ang nakakatakot lang maraming new cases sa ating kabataan," he added. Based on the agency's latest data, there are 148,831 recorded cases of HIV in the Philippines. As the country sees a rise in HIV cases, the DOH urged the public to get tested, which can be done in various health and medical facilities in the country. Here are some of the medical institutions where you can get tested for HIV: Social hygiene clinics In a previous interview with GMA News Online, Dr. Deano Reyes, an LGBTQ+ health doctor and the medical director of Hara Clinic, a holistic gender and sexual health clinic in Pasig City recommended getting HIV tests at social hygiene clinics, where services are offered for free. "First, you can contact your local government unit and ask where the nearest social hygiene clinic within your area is. Social hygiene clinics are government-run facilities where they can conduct testing like HIV and also link you to care," he said. NGO Clinics Aside from social hygiene clinics, there are also a lot of non-government organizations that provide free HIV testing and even medications. Among them is LoveYourself, a non-government organization in the Philippines that provides free HIV testing, counseling, and treatment in the Philippines. You can get their free HIV testing in their clinics located in Mandaluyong City, Caloocan City, Bacolod City, Baguio City, Bacoor City, Parañaque City, Pasay City, Manila, and Cebu City. Another NGO Clinic that provides affordable HIV care is Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines or SHIP. They offer free HIV testing and treatment through their SAIL Clinic in Makati City. Government health facilities Government health facilities such as the San Lazaro Hospital, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), and Philippine General Hospital (PGH) under their SAGIP unit also offer free HIV testing. If you are a Quezon City resident, the Quezon City Health Department is offering a free HIV self-testing kit for those who want a more confidential approach to knowing their HIV status. Private healthcare providers HIV testing is also offered in private healthcare facilities and hospitals, including Hara Clinic, Pulse Clinic Manila, St. Luke's Medical Center, and The Medical City in Ortigas. —MGP, GMA Integrated News
