SOME Davao City officials committed to undergo human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test to break the stigma and discrimination on the said infection.
According to Pricilla Senoc, City Health Office Health Education and Promotion Officer III, Vice Mayor Bernard Al-ag allowed the group to conduct free HIV tests at the city council as public projection.
“This will be voluntary, just to show the public na walay gipili nga tao ang sakit na HIV,” Oscar Obenza, Olympus Davao president, said Thursday, November 8, during the Ispeak media forum, adding that whatever background a person has or status in the society, anyone is susceptible to have HIV infection.
With free HIV tests to be conducted in the three districts in the city and with the help of the city officials, it will be imparted to the public that there is no shame on accessing the services.
On November 25, the group will conduct free HIV tests for district three residents and this will be held in Mintal gym; November 26 for district two in Barangay San Antonio, Agdao; and November 27 for district one in Barangay 5-A gym.
Meanwhile, Pricilla Senoc, also Davao City Aids Council Secretariat, urged the public to visit the City Health Office through the Reproductive Health and Wellness Center every third and fourth Friday of the month for their “sundown” services which will extend until 12 midnight.
“Sa HIV, naa didto and forever (With HIV, there is forever),” she said, explaining that the infection does not even have signs and symptoms and the only way to know if the person is HIV positive or not is through going to the clinic for HIV testing.
The data that showed the radical increase of HIV from 1984 to 2018 is still underreported due to the stigma and discrimination on HIV, she added. (Lyka Amethyst H. Casamayor)