438 PDLs from Pagbilao undergo HIV testing

By Rowena Cruz Persons Deprived of Liberty under the care of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology — Quezon District Jail during HIV te...

By Rowena Cruz

Persons Deprived of Liberty under the care of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology — Quezon District Jail during HIV testing as part of the institution's health screening program. (Photo from (Photo from Joefrie Anglo/BJMP Quezon District Jail Official)

PAGBILAO, Quezon - For this group of Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL), having restricted freedom is not a hindrance to their commitment to prioritize their health. Despite being incarcerated in Pagbilao, they willingly underwent Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) testing to ensure their well-being.

438 PDLs under the care of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology — Quezon District Jail in Sitio Fori, Brgy. Talipan, Pagbilao, Quezon lined up patiently as medical professionals conducted the HIV tests.



Part of the institution's health screening program , the HIV testing aims to detect and prevent the spread of the virus among the PDLs. This proactive approach towards their well-being reflects the commitment of both the institution and the PDLs themselves to prioritize their health despite their restricted freedom.

The test also included counseling sessions to educate the PDLs about HIV prevention and treatment. The counseling sessions aimed to provide information on safe sex practices and the importance of regular testing.



In collaboration with the BJMP Quezon District Jail office, the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) of the Quezon Provincial Government supervised the examination of PDLs and explained to them the importance of early detection and drug administration for HIV disease.

According to Irene Santiago, Infectious Disease Unit Head of Quezon IPHO, the blood sample obtained from the PDL is subjected to the Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) to determine whether or not it tests positive for the said virus.

Santiago added that if a person tests positive in the first test, he will be subjected to a confirmatory test, and if he tests positive again, he will be subjected to extensive counseling, but all results will be kept confidential.

Meanwhile, JO2 Jeffrey Valenzuela, Unit Nurse of the Quezon District Jail, clarified that the PDLs' submission to such an examination is voluntary, and they only need to sign the counseling and consent forms before they are subjected to the examination.

The screening lasted three days, from August 22 to August 25. Medical personnel performed rigorous inspections during the screening to ensure reliable results. (with reports from Joefrie Anglo/BJMP Quezon District Jail Official)