by Dong de los Reyes July 5, 2022 HIV SCREENING | DASH Quezon Province conducted a Free HIV Screening with Free Condoms and Lubricant today,...
July 5, 2022
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| HIV SCREENING | DASH Quezon Province conducted a Free HIV Screening with Free Condoms and Lubricant today, June 25, 2022 during the Pride Month Celebration of the LGBTQ Sariaya. A total of 25 Sariayahin was Tested at the Tourism Office as the Screening venue. Chairman Frinz Salonga, Vice President Rofel Argolida, Secretary Johnrey Suarez, Second District Representative Vincent Ofracio and Sir Paul Manalo was present on the said Activity. We would like to extend our Gratitude to the People of Sariaya, Quezon esp. to The LGBTQ Sariaya President Sir Ryan Quilala. |
LUCENA CITY - Once a victim tests positive for the dreaded human immunodeficiency virus, earnest counseling on how to cope with the condition begins- no cure has yet been found for the HIV menace, it can only be managed like the deadlier diabetes that ravages millions. It is not a dead-end, it is a new beginning for the victim.
So assures leaders of the community-based group in Quezon Province, Dealing Against the Stigma of HIV (DASH) in a recent live broadcast of "Sentinel Times on the Air," anchored by local journalist Ms. Belinda Otordoz at station Cool 101.5.
Ostracism, homophobia, depression, dread even disgust from once-close friends and next-of-kin beleaguer the HIV victim, who often feels more hopeless than hapless. DASH offers more than a whit of cheer and hope for life.
DASH Chair Frinz Salonga and President Antonino Anilao affirmed this commitment to the Quezon community- despite lack of logistics and funding support from global grants-giving bodies and their national counterparts.
"A virus does not end your dreams," Anilao asserts, and adds, "it can be managed."
The group began their work in 2017 when 871 new HIV victims were found in February 2018 alone with 132 victims- or second to the highest number- from the Calabarzon region. Health statistics cite that "the Philippines has one of the lowest rates of infection, yet has one of the fastest growing number of cases worldwide."
In response to the growing menace, Quezon Medical Center - Live Positive Wellness Hub was listed as one of the DOH Designated HIV treatment centers in Region 4-A.
Health care
Healthcare worker Salonga relates that DASH is linked to the LGBT sector of the populace, which gets the "judgmental treatment" once one goes into hospital confinement: "malandi, masamang tao, ikaw ay kung ano."
He maintains that the HIV stigma stems from "lack of knowledge among the people."
DASH bats for a remedy to such lack with grassroots information and community-based drives for screening tests, even "pride" beauty pageeants become platforms for propagating information meant to go viral to erase the HIV stigma.
Once a victim tests positive for the virus, DASH musters its forces to keep the victim's identity in secret, and earnest counselling is ushered to allay the victim's anxieties and apprehensions.
Such support is meant to bring the victim back on his feet to face kith and kin, and come to terms with and understanding of the disease.
Statistics show that victims are concentrated among men who have sex with men, that multiplied over 10 times since 2010. Too, victims are getting younger; Anilao cites a 15- year old victim whom he counsels.
"Para nating tinatakpan ang katotohanan na bukas na ang kaisipan ng ating mga kabataan sa kamunduhan. Hindi naman po sila puwedeng husgahan. Pansariling opinyon ko lang na sila ay kulang sa pagmamahal." Anilao rues as he cites that numbers of HIV victims are getting younger.
Looking ahead
There is hope for the victim who needs to take medications-- given for free- for a length of time until a stage is reached when tests would show no indication of the virus in the victim's body, Anilao informs.
At that stage, the victim can freely interact, even engage in sex. But the medications continue.
At that stage, the victim has gained keener awareness about sexual health and is warier about engaging in sex, promiscuity goes out the window.
"Knowing the risks, they become more faithful to their partners," he adds.
Salonga warns that it isn't HIV that kills the victim. As the viruses multiply in the host's body, compromising the body's immunity to combat and win over a host of maladies, the immune system rendered helpless falls prey to sickness, usually pneumonia and pulmonary tuberculosis.
Awareness allows anyone to be wary of risks, and seek out people willing to give a helping hand, and DASH reminds, "anytime puwede ninyo kaming lapitan, kahit nasaan kayo."
"Malungkot pero masaya (once a victim tests positive for the virus) kasi, magiging magulang ka na niya, tagapayo, magiging bahagi ng kanyang pamilya. Hanggang lumalaban ka, kasama mo kami sa paglaban mo. Hindi kami bibitaw hanggang hindi ka bumibitaw."
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