Bacnotan District Hospital Spearheads HIV/AIDS Prevention Advocacy
[wp-svg-icons icon="user" wrap="span"] By: Melanie Holt | [wp-svg-icons icon="camera" wrap="span"] By: Melanie Holt | [wp-svg-icons icon="calendar" wrap="span"] Date: July 27, 2018
The police force shows off a banner full of signatures representing their pledge of support to the Provincial Government of La Union, through Bacnotan District Hospital, in its advocacy on HIV/AIDS and STI prevention with the theme, “Together, we can beat HIV/AIDS” during the HIV counselling and testing activities at the La Union Police Provincial Office, Camp Diego Silang, San Fernando City, La Union on July 27, 2018.
Commencing its Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/ Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Sexually-Transmitted Infections (STI) education and advocacy project, the Provincial Government of La Union through the Bacnotan District Hospital (BDH), headed by Dr. Zenserly D. Pagaduan, conducted advocacy lectures among police personnel on July 13, 2018, followed by counselling and testing activities on July 27, 2018 at the La Union Police Provincial Office (LUPPO), Camp Diego Silang, San Fernando City, La Union.
Acting Provincial Director, PSSupt. Ricardo G. Layug Jr., led his men together with BDH personnel in the ceremonial signing of Pledge of Support in the advocacy on HIV/AIDS and STI prevention with the theme, “Together, we can beat HIV/AIDS.”
“The Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) stands as one with the Philippine National Police and the La Union Provincial Police Office in their initiative to bring HIV Counselling and Testing to the men and women of the provincial police force… The Provincial Government recognizes and appreciates your courage and passion to serve and protect and we want to serve and protect you in return through this advocacy,” said Governor Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III in his message.
Around 50 police personnel attended the advocacy lectures and 33 of them voluntarily agreed to be counselled and tested to know their HIV status.
They have undergone Pre-Test Counselling, a process of providing an individual the information on the biomedical aspects of HIV/AIDS and emotional support to any psychological implications of undergoing HIV testing and the test result itself before subjected to the test. Through certified HIV counsellors of BDH, they were given information related to the disease and the test and were provided understanding of what the test results mean. Their informed consent to undergo testing was also obtained.
After the pre-test counselling, they proceeded to HIV testing wherein laboratory procedure performed by an HIV proficient medical technologist done to determine the presence or absence of HIV infection.
A Post-Test Counselling, was also conducted where they were provided with risk-reduction information after the test result was released.
All counselling activities were done in a closed room and all testing results were kept confidential so all the information is shared only by the counsellor, the medical technologist, and the police personnel who have undergone the process.
One of the provisions of Republic Act 8504 entitled Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998, also known as the AIDS Law, is a nationwide information and education campaign in all social sectors. This activity is one of the programs of PGLU-BDH to achieve the La Union Health Governance, Healthy La Union, Happy La Union by 2022.
Acting Provincial Director, PSSupt. Ricardo G. Layug Jr., Bacnotan District Hospital (BDH) Chief, Dr. Zenserly D. Pagaduan, and HIV/AIDS and STI Committee chairman, Dr. Reynaldo Verganio Jr. lead the police force in the ceremonial signing of pledge of support to the Provincial Government of La Union through BDH in the advocacy on HIV/AIDS and STI prevention with the theme, “Together, we can beat HIV/AIDS” during the HIV counselling and testing activities at the La Union Police Provincial Office, Camp Diego Silang, San Fernando City, La Union on July 27, 2018.
HIV/AIDS and STI Committee chairman and certified HIV counselor, Dr. Reynaldo Verganio Jr., conducts HIV counselling and testing activities at the La Union Police Provincial Office, Camp Diego Silang, San Fernando City, La Union on July 27, 2018.
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