BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia issued Executive Order (EO) No. 5 for convening of the Bacolod Local sexually transmitted infection (STI)/ human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/ acquired immune deficiency syndrome (Aids) Council in view of the recent increase of STI/HIV/Aids cases in the city.
Leonardia, who signed the EO on January 25, said Monday the STI/HIV/Aids is a worldwide concern and it is in fact a worldwide phenomenon so Bacolod is not exempted from it.
“Bacolod should have preventive measures to give attention to these problems. This is a step towards preventing the widespread of these diseases in Bacolod and of course, it comes with an effort on our part to disseminate the information,” he said.
He added that City Ordinance No. 468, Series of 2008 created the Bacolod Local STI/HIV/Aids Council which will help ensure efficient and effective delivery of the programs and shall serve as the advisory monitoring board of the project.
The mayor noted that Aids is a disease that recognizes no territorial, social, political and economic boundaries for which a cure has yet to be discovered.
The recent report from the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital HIV-Aids Core Team showed that from 2007 to October 2017, Bacolod has a total of 304 HIV/Aids cases already which is the second highest in Western Visayas.
The local STI/HIV/Aids Council is chaired by Leonardia with the City Health Officer as the vice chairperson.