DOH 6 proposes halfway house for people living with HIV/AIDS
People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Region 6 will soon have a place where to adjust and reenter and live within its accepted norms.
Director Ariel Valencia of the Department of Health, Region 6 said during a PIA interview that a halfway house will soon rise in an identified place in Iloilo to serve the needs of the PLWHA who with the collaborative help of the government and the NGO, have started coming out into the open.
“There is really a need for a place to be established for the PLWHAs who come into the open to seek medication, consultation and advise to have a place where they can be more at ease,” Director Valencia said.
With the public disclosure of some PLWHA, the government through the DOH and other agencies have extended support treatment and counseling services. While there is no cure for HIV/AIDS but for those who were afflicted with it and submitted themselves to the DOH, have access to ARV, a drug which suppresses the virus and stop the progression of HIV disease.
Director Valencia said that the halfway house is seen to benefit the PLWHAs while undergoing treatment and counseling.
With confidentiality, Dr. Valencia said that there is already an existing structure and all we need is some funds to furnish it, “and when the place is ready we will be tapping the services of the TESDA, DSWD and other agencies to provide the PLWHAs with skills that will eventually help them for their livelihood”.
“The place has an area where the PLWHAs could also do organic farming and other activities that can still be explored for the benefit of the PLWHAs,” Valencia said.
The DOH 6 Director also pointed out the other significance of this halfway house for PLWHAs in other provinces of Western Visayas who come to Iloilo City to seek medication at the Western Visayas Medical Center where the HIV and AIDS Core Team (HACT) is housed.
“This place could provide them shelter while away from home for one night or until the day their transaction at the HACT is completed,” Valencia said.
According to Charity Perea, DOH 6 Regional STI Coordinator, there are now 91 PLWHAs recorded in Western Visayas from year 1994 to April 2010. Of the 91, around 27 died bringing to only 59 PLWHAs who are currently receiving health services from the government and NGOs.
This sector, Perea said, is already doing advocacies to inform and educate the public and are helping in the campaign against HIV and AIDS.
The STI Coordinator said that there may be more PLWHAs out there but are still afraid to come out.(PIA6/T.Villavert)
