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Friday, May 13, 2005
Media practitioners still don't know Aids Law
DEPARTMENT of Health (DOH) medical specialist Renee Faldas bared a plan Thursday to conduct a reorientation for media practitioners regarding the HIV/Aids and the law regarding this after noting the continued insensitivity of the media regarding persons with HIV/Aids and the absence of knowledge regarding the Philippine Aids Prevention and Control Act of 1998.
During the I-speak forum, Dr. Faldas said the media should be sensitive in reporting about a person suspected to have HIV.
She said the names of persons suspected to be carrying HIV should be held confidential.
Faldas said she was surprised during a recent press conference when some media practitioners allegedly insisted to know the name of the person with Aids in Bansalan, Davao del Sur who died few weeks ago.
"Gusto talaga nilang malaman ang pangalan. Kami nga sa medical team hindi basta-basta mag-release ng pangalan unless may confirmatory results na sa medical tests ng pasyente," Faldas said.
Faldas believes that identifying names of persons infected with HIV or Aids will greatly affect the family of the infected person. Disclosure of details on the person with HIV or Aids is also prohibited in Republic Act 8504 or the Philippine Aids Prevention and Control Act of 1998.
"We have to respect also the person with serious infection," she said.
In earlier reports, Faldas said health authorities in Region 11 are already keeping tight watch of the people who has had sexual contact with the woman with Aids who died in Davao del Sur last month.
Faldas said the "contact tracing" by the DOH is ongoing adding that they have already identified more than 40 people suspected to have had sex with the woman in the past.
She said some of the identified customers of the victim have already approached them. But many still could not be reached for verification.
As of March 2005, a total of 2,250 HIV cases were reported in the Philippines. Twelve cases were in Davao City, seven of whom have already died. (AAG)
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (May 13, 2005 issue)
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