“Everyone is vulnerable to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) not just the homosexuals or bisexuals; no one is exempted.”
This is the statement of Dr. Joey Retuya, Epidemiologist of Cagayan de Oro City Health and Sanitation Clinic during the press conference led by the Department of Health (DOH) region 10 in Cagayan de Oro City on 3 December 2015 in celebration of World AIDS day.
Further, Dr. Retuya said to stop the discrimination or notion where homosexuals are the spreader of the epidemic virus. He said, everyone is vulnerable and no one is exempted.
Dr. Retuya also advocates “Don’t scare. Be Aware.” He encourages those who are involved in the risky lifestyle like engaging in unprotected sex with multiple partners or with sex workers, and injecting drugs for recreation to be tested in the any social hygiene clinic to know their status.
Meanwhile, Civil Service Commission (CSC) region 10 chief Human Resource Specialist, Eden H. Banaag, encourages government agencies to come up with program for education on HIV and AIDS in coordination with DOH to continue the campaign even in the government service.
She said Republic Act No. 8504 known as Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998 have already laid out guidelines in the implementation of the workplace policy and education program on HIV and AIDS.
Further, under Section 6, it orders all government agencies including Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) and private employees shall be provided with necessary information and instruction on HIV and AIDS.
She said that CSC is tasked to monitor government agencies in their education program on HIV and AIDS.
However, monitoring and assessment of the workplace of HIV and AIDS education program among private institution is the responsibility of the Department of Labor and Employment in partnership with DOH, while in AFP and PNP, it must be the task of AFP Chief of Staff and PNP Director General.
World AIDS Day is celebrated annually every December 1 since 1988 not just to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS but also to raise money for HIV to help sustain survival among HIV victims. (Mariel Urdaneta/JMOR/PIA10)
