MANILA, Philippines - As part of its contribution to the global effort to stop HIV-AIDS, the Parañaque LGU under the leadership of Mayor Florencio M. Bernabe, Jr. joined the nation and the whole world in observing World AIDS last Dec. 1. This year’s observance banners the theme “Universal Access And Human Rights.”
A motorcade in the city streets, simultaneous with the ringing of church bells, was held in the early morning. It was followed by a lecture for HIV-AIDS awareness and prevention. Apart from main resource person Dr. Geraldine Ligaya Yangson from the Parañaque City Health Office, two guest speakers, Celestino Ramirez, an AIDS counselor and an HIV-AIDS-infected patient, shared their experiences with the audience.
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS is a disease that attacks the immune system, leaving the victim with no immunities to fight the infection which ultimately leads to death. It has claimed 25 million lives since it was first discovered. At present, there are about 60 million people who are infected with HIV-AIDS.
“Like other deadly diseases, AIDS should never be taken lightly, especially that there is no known cure for it yet. It also causes emotional suffering not only on the patient but also to the infected person’s relatives mainly because of the stigma it carries.
As Parañaque City joins the whole world in observing World AIDS Day, it reaffirms its commitment to continue educating its residents and implementing programs that are directed towards stopping the dreaded infection. “Our Social Hygiene Clinic headed by Dr. Karen Galvan under the supervision of City Health Officer Dr. Olga Virtusio and our NGO and corporate partners are doing a great job in instilling public awareness and adopting programs to counter the threat,” says Mayor Bernabe said.
Recently, the Parañaque City government, in partnership with Johnson and Johnson Philippines and Save The Children Philippines, launched an anti-AIDS project called LAKAS Laban sa AIDS (Lahat Laban sa HIV at AIDS) which has the following components: Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT); family-based treatment and support for People Living with HIV (PLHIV); advocacy of the mainstreaming of HIV prevention and VCT among most-at-risk groups and treatment, care, and support for PLHIV in the city health program; and scaling of BALUTI (Batang Laging Umiiwas sa Tiyak na Impeksyon) activities.