Get tested, be informed in fight against HIV, AIDS

Cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections continue to drop around the world, but the Philippines is among nine countries where HIV cases are on the rise.   

"For 2012 the estimated population of the country is 95 million, and we project that the number of people living with HIV is now at 21,000," said Health Assistant Secretary Dr. Eric Tayag.

 

Information is key in the fight against HIV/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, as it was emphasized at the World AIDS Day 2012 forum on December 3 at the ADB Headquarters in Ortigas.

 

"The best way to protect ourselves is to know our HIV status," said Dr. Jean-Jacques Bernatas of the Staff Development and Benefits Division, Budget, Personnel, and Management Systems Department at ADB. 

 

He noted that as of the end of 2011, it was estimated that only half of all people living with HIV knew their HIV status.

 

Tayag said that among groups where the prevalence is higher, there are less people who know their current HIV status. "They're afraid to get tested, they think there's no need to get tested, or they do not know where to get tested," he said.

 

According to Tayag, drivers of the HIV epidemic in the country include increasing HIV prevalence among key affected populations, the growing number of areas that are now vulnerable, the high prevalence of unsafe behaviors, the widening financial gap, as well as some legal barriers. 

 

"We cannot implement, for example, harm reduction or needle syringe management because current laws do not allow us to distribute clean needles and syringes, because that's tantamount to drug pushing," he said.

 

While Tayag said it is projected that the number of people living with HIV in 2015 will be close to 40,000, best practices are in place to attain the Millennium Development Goals for HIV.

 

Preventing HIV

 

Meanwhile, Bernatas said that working together with the government, civil society, and nongovernment organizations, companies can also contribute to prevention and treatment.

 

"There is a need to actively participate to reach zero infection, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related death right away," he said during his presentation "HIV at the Workplace: Protecting Yourself," which was based on International Labor Organization's Recommendation Concerning HIV and AIDS and the World of Work 2010.

 

Bernatas said employees must avoid behavior that could discourage another employee from getting the appropriate support and intervention. "It is preventing from judging my coworkers on their real or perceived HIV status, their sexual orientation, their real or perceived addiction," he said. 

 

One of the most important and effective ways of behaving in the workplace is supporting the worker who is infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. "Of course there are no rules for that and no regulation, but getting the right information will help to getting the right attitude towards the thinking of the staff," Bernatas said.

 

Saying employers must set the example, he advised them to promote zero discrimination, give access to voluntary counseling and testing, as well as to curative and preventive health care. Employees living with HIV should have access to appropriate health services, including antiretroviral therapy, nutrition support, HIV related illness management, as well as access to prevention programs including psychological support. 

 

"We are talking about medical expense coverage because we know this is something that will prevent most of the people living with HIV/AIDS to get the appropriate treatment," Bernatas said, noting that employers must also consider HIV affected employees, whose spouse or child is infected. 

 

Measures must also be taken in the workplace to prevent HIV transmission. "It's about promotion of sexual and reproductive health, meaning we have to make sure that all the staff can have access to appropriate contraception, including condoms," Bernatas said.

 

He stressed the importance of providing accurate and up to date information, in order to raise awareness on high risk behavior and modes of transmission. "We have to get back to the basics and explain that HIV is not transmitted by casual physical contact for instance, and that the presence of a person living with HIV should not be considered as a workplace hazard," he said.

 

During the forum, ADB Vice President Stephen Groff reconfirmed ADB's commitment to supporting its developing member countries in implementing effective measures against AIDS. ADB is finalizing a technical assistance project for the Philippines, "HIV Prevention in Big Cities in the Philippines."

 

ADB also approved a technical assistance project for Myanmar entitled "Strengthening Local Response to Address HIV Risks along the Economic Corridors in Myanmar." "The projects will hopefully showcase the effectiveness of a focused and strategic approach to tackling HIV/AIDS epidemics in two important member countries of the ADB," Groff said.

 

Chiyo Kanda, acting Country Director for the Philippines of the World Bank, said the project aims to come up with a cost-effective and high-impact working model of HIV intervention for key affected populations in big cities of the Philippines, mainly in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu.

 

"Openness and innovation will definitely help in the current and future interventions in HIV prevalence in the Philippines," she said. --KG, GMA News