Group re-affirms help for HIV/AIDS victims

CEBU, Philippines - Members of the group called “Cebu Plus” re-affirmed its commitment to help HIV-AIDS victims in efforts to reduce discrimination, ensure access, increase resources, and promote involvement.

The group signed an agreement on this matter with the Department of Education, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Cebu City Attorney’s Office, the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Department of Social Services, and various support volunteer organizations.

Cebu Plus president Jerson T. See and Dr. Ilya A. Tac-an of the Cebu City Health Department led stakeholders in signing the memorandum of understanding to reinforce their partnership to provide assistance to HIV-AIDS victims in the form of free blood testing, access of free medicines, fund raising, donation campaigns, free counseling for the psychosocial needs of the victims, free shelter for rejected victims and learning support to break down barriers and discrimination, and early protection.

“Our Cebu HIV-AIDS movement also conducts peer education campaign for men having sex with men, for commercial sex workers and those using injected drugs. These require extensive efforts and funds aside from government funds that is why we really need the unified efforts of these volunteer support-organizations,” said Tac-an.

“Our Cebu Movement for Cebu HIV-AIDS Victims through Cebu Plus the and Cebu City Health Department encourage those who are in doubt of being affected by HIV-AIDS to consult us for early detection, kay kung unya pa sila maga-chekup maybe it will be too late and makatakod pa sila,” she added.

The group had a candle-lighting ceremony at the Fuente Osmeña yesterday. (FREEMAN)