Capiz offers free HIV screening
Roxas City -- A free HIV screening for a limited number of beneficiaries is ongoing until November 23 at the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) – Capiz Chapter headquarters here in line with the upcoming World AIDS Day celebration on December 1.
HIV is the acronym for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, an infectious agent that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
The screening is initiated by the City Health Office (CHO) in collaboration with PNRC – Capiz Chapter. The test kits were provided by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
"We will observe strict confidentiality during the test and on the results," said Dr. Evelyn Bolido, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI)/HIV-AIDS Program Coordinator for Capiz.
"The personnel from CHO will also conduct pre and post test counseling," she added.
Dra. Ana Carmela de Matias and Ruth Icasiano are the CHO's STI Coordinator and Social Hygiene Clinic Nurse, respectively.
The CHO will also conduct a free Gram Staining and treatment from Nov. 26 to 29 in view of the World Aids Day celebration.
Gram staining is a laboratory procedure for people with STI.
A symposium on HIV will be conducted by the CHO on Nov. 26 among its affiliated nursing students.
For its part, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) has started its series of HIV/AIDS orientation for high school and college students in various municipalities provincewide. The student-participants are encouraged to sign for a commitment of support against HIV/AIDS proliferation during the orientation.
World AIDS Day is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection.
The concept of a World AIDS Day originated at the 1988 World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programmes for AIDS Prevention. Since then, it has been taken up by governments, international organizations and charities around the world. (PIA)