ALL inmates at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Davao Region have received free condoms while some of them have undergone human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing.
The president of the Olympus Society of Davao, Oscar Obenza, said Saturday, November 17, 2018, in a phone interview that a total of 145 female and 180 male inmates underwent HIV testing while each inmate received three boxes of condoms for free last November 13 to 14.
“Condom has always been one of the most effective ways of protecting oneself not only sa HIV but also with other STIs (sexually transmitted infections,” Obenza said.
“Hindi naman natin sinasabi na dahil nasa loob na sila ng jail ay hindi na sila bibigyan ng health services, karapatan pa rin nila yun bilang isang tao, (We are not saying that because they are in jail it means that they will no longer be given health services, they still have rights as human beings)” he added.
Obenza said there are risky behaviors that are possibly done by the detainees inside the jail which may cause transmission of infection, thus the Department of Health and the Global Fund Project made them the priority and target population for education and HIV screening.
“Most of the time, during the conversation, most of the prisoners do not usually use condoms. During the time na in-offer namin sa kanila, doon mas naipaliwanag ang kahalagahan ng using of condoms,” Obenza said, adding that the inmates will be more comfortable with condoms if they understand the advantages of using it.
“It is a symbolic reminder na proteksyonan ang sarili. Akala kasi nila na ang condoms ay for contraceptives lang,” he said.
In the data shown by the Davao City Aids Council, in Davao City alone, there have been a total of 2,525 HIV cases reported of which 132 are females and 2,393 are males.
The Olympus Society of Davao will also visit campuses within the city to conduct HIV screening and education campaign.