Capiz to join int'l AIDS candlelight memorial
Roxas City -- Capiceños will once again join the observance of the international AIDS candlelight memorial on May 20 to honor the memory of those lost to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and to demonstrate support for those living with the incurable disease.
Dr. Evelyn T. Bolido, STI/HIV/AIDS Program Coordinator for Capiz, said various initiatives for the upcoming event have been lined up by the Roxas City Health Office, Rural Health Units, Capiz Evangelical Church, and some non-government organizations, among others.
"The Candlelight is a way for communities to take action by strengthening local and national commitments to fighting the pandemic," said Dr. Bolido.
The activities include orientation on HIV/AIDS for health workers and candlelighting ceremony. The Capiz Evangelical Church will read an AIDS Awareness letter during its mass before the candlelighting.
Earlier, the provincial government organized the Capiz AIDS Council in support to the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) aimed to combat the disease by year 2015.
A total of 47 AIDS cases in Western Visayas have been registered in the AIDS Registry of the Department of Health -- Center for Health and Development Western Visayas as of March this year.
The statistics only pertains to those who have surfaced and have availed themselves of the services of the Department of Health (DOH) and some non-government organizations (NGOs).
"The DOH has sufficient anti-retroviral drugs for those who want to avail," said Ms. Charity Perea, Regional AIDS Coordinator, as she continuously calls for other PLWHAs to come ouw and seek the help of the health deparwment. (PIA)