Occidental Mindoro's second HIV/AIDS testing center opens

A second HIV/AIDS Satellite Treatment Center opened in Occidental Mindoro on Tuesday to give HIV patients immediate, free services and allow more people to get screened.

Health Regional Director Eduardo Janairo said during the opening ceremony that opening the clinic was part of the Department of Health's (DOH) goal of opening one treatment center per province to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS.

"With this facility in place, we can provide immediate free treatment services to HIV patients in the province. Knowing one's HIV status, whether positive or not is the key to prevent the spread of the virus in the community. There still no cure for the virus and it is dangerously transmissible," Janairo said.

Patients with HIV/AIDS can receive free, confidential treatment and free antiretroviral drugs at the clinic, located at the Occidental Mindoro Provincial Hospital in Mamburao.

The first clinic was set up in the province's San Jose town.

Occidental Mindoro has had three positive cases from 1984 to 2017.

In the same timeframe, the whole region of MIMAROPA (Region 4B) has identified a total of 39 positive cases and 316 asymptomatic cases: three in Occidental Mindoro, two from Marinduque, 14 from Oriental Mindoro, 17 from Palawan, and three from Romblon.

Of these, four positive cases and 329 asymptomatic patients were identified as male and 26 asymptomatic cases involved women. About 43 of the patients were overseas Filipino workers and 17 have died.

MIMAROPA contributes one percent to the total percentage of newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS cases per region.

HIV or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a virus that attacks the body's immune system that, if left untreated, may lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

Its main mode of transmission is through sexual contact and can also be spread through blood transfusion and pregnancy or lactation. — MDM, GMA News