28th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial on May 15!

In line with the 28th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial there will be a candle lighting activity and a yoga session on May 15 at the Glorietta 3 Park in Ayala, Makati City from 3:30PM to 7PM.

The yoga activity in partner with the annual candlelight event for HIV/AIDS entitled Yoga for Life: Touching Lives, will be supported by Yoga instructors such as Roland dela Cruz, Jeannie Javelosa, Tesa Celdran, Marilen Elizalde, Marc Carlos, Lex Bonife and Rebecca de Villa. It encourages participants of the activity to live a healthy and well life, inner peace, and self empowerment especially the advocates of HIV/AIDS awareness and those living with AIDS. For those who want to participate must bring extra clothes and mats for the yoga session.

Joining the #PreventionRevolution Campaign against HIV/AIDS on World AIDS Day

As of August 2010, the number of reported cases of people living with HIV/AIDS reached 5, 742. Making the record of 2-3 new cases each day, and it is alarming that in all part of the world there are new cases each day that reaches almost 70, 000. The issue of HIV/AIDS falls on the UN Millennium Development Goal number 6 which is combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases that hinder the campaign of UN to end poverty.

In connection of HIV/AIDS, UNAIDS, the United Nation Joint Project for AIDS created an online campaign called Prevention Revolution. This is there way to utilize social networks and the internet to reach out to all in the cyberspace on what we call revolutionized awareness. The youth who is mostly vulnerable to have the virus because of the exposure on casual sex and drugs, UNAIDS wanted to inform them the risk of involving themselves to these kinds of activities.

Like in all my HIV/AIDS related post, people living with AIDS is considered as modern lepers by others who doesn’t know the right information or proper awareness. The virus can only be transferred through unsafe sex, sharing needles or syringe, blood transfusion and breast feeding that involves an infected mother to a child.

There are ABCDE to prevent the spread of virus; A – Abstinence, B – Be Faithful, C- Condom use, D – Don’t share needles, and E – Education. Among the five choices, I can still say the most important is education. The proper guidance of the youth in particular to enlighten them and be responsible. The youth has the larger portion in the population of people living with AIDS because of being risk takers which lacks responsibility, most were men and portion is those having same sex affair.

Education also leads to understanding. That is why I am one of those with UNAIDS calling of lifting travel restriction to people living with AIDS in there country. There are 52 countries has this travel restriction. In the 122nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union last March 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand, UNAIDS appealed to the remaining 52 countries that have oppressive travel restrictions against people with AIDS, to lift these conditions. Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS challenges the leaders to encourage their legislators in creating a law that will safeguard the rights and welfare of people living with AIDS.

Go out and be tested. This is one of my challenge to all to go out and be tested especially those who are in doubt. The test is confidential. There are two options, if found positive they will undergo counseling and medical help and if found negative this will make them more responsible next time. For HIV/AIDS testing you can visit Social Hygiene Clinic - Manila Health Department, 2nd Floor of 208 Quiricada Street, Sta. Cruz, Manila, for inquiries contact for inquiries, call 711-6942 and look for Dra. Diana Mendoza or Ms. Malou Tan, Monday to Friday only from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Or you can call Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC) at 7438301 local 2553 for counseling. Some of the accredited HIV/AIDS treatment hubs include Philippine General Hospital (PGH - contact number 5218450), San Lazaro Hospital (SLH - contact number 7408301 local 6000), and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM - contact number 8072628 local 801). For other AIDS Hotline you can call; Lunduyan Foundation INC (4214953), Pinoy Plus Association INC (5244507), Remedios AIDS Foundation INC (5240924), and Positive Action Foundation Philippines INC (8326239).

The Prevention Revolution doesn’t start and end on World AIDS Day, instead the campaign for education and awareness and to be responsible should be taken each day. Let’s spread the awareness and not the virus!


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ICTY Staff in Football Action For World AIDS Day

Members of the media are invited to join the Tribunal on Friday, 26 November as it sends off its football team across the English Channel for a five-day tour in the United Kingdom. The UN Workers Football Team will be playing a series of friendly games in an effort to help eradicate stigma against people living with HIV/AIDS and who play sports.

From 27 to 30 November, the UN Workers Football Team will play against the UK Members of Parliament, the Trade Union Congress, as well as teams from Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

The UK football tour is part of the ICTY Staff Union’s recently launched social campaign S’porting Lives. The first campaign hopes to raise awareness of the unwarranted stigma people living with HIV/AIDS face when trying to participate in sports.

S’porting Lives’ campaign will conclude on World AIDS Day, 1 December, in Cape Town, where S’porting Lives has collaborated with Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), a leading HIV/AIDS organisation in South Africa. The TAC team will play a local team to support S’porting Lives’ international cause.

The UN team began training in October 2010, and is comprised of players of 14 nationalities, representing all organs of the Tribunal, including the Defence. It is a team of legal professionals, support staff and interns who have come together, volunteering their own time and money, to raise awareness for a common cause. It is supported by HIVsport, Educational Sports Forum, FIFPro and the Professional Footballers Association.


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Reproductive Health: More than Family Planning

After the incident that involves Carlos Celdran where he raised a board with a DAMASO on it, he was brought in jail and awakens the silent supporters of the controversial Reproductive Health Bill that will celebrate its 7th year in congress undelivered and not properly discussed. Last year the bill died a natural death where during its deliberation there is no quorum until the last congress closed. The FORUM for Family Planning and Development Inc hosted a discussion at the Annabel’s in Tomas Morato last October 5 to present the stand of the RH Advocates and to discuss what is the importance of the passage of the bill with the Roman Catholic hierarchy is opposing and warns the present government to do civil disobedience if ever they support the act.

Present in the forum were Gabriella Partylist Representative Luz Ilagan, AKBAYAN Partylist Representative Kaka Bag-ao, Alternative Law Group Coordinator and the present lawyer of Carlos Celdran Attorney Marlon Manuel, Executive Director of Health Action Information Network and Nation Coordinator of Catholics for Reproductive Health Movement Dr. Edelina dela Paz, President of Forum for Family Planning and Development Mr. Benjamin de Leon, Executive Director of Linangan ng Kababaihan Dr. Junice Demeterio Melgar, and National President of Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines Beth Angsioco.

During the discussion it was highlighted that President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is supporting the idea of having comprehensive maternal health care for the country. His support started after his return from the UN Millennium Development Goals Summit in New York, but a rumor came in that the Roman Catholic Church will excommunicate him if ever he supports the bill. This rumor leads to more heat up discussion between two parties the RH Advocates and those who oppose the bill. According to Gabriella Rep. Ilagan they wanted the church to consider the call of the majority that is now favoring the need of reproductive heath in the country which was seconded by Akbayan Rep Bag-ao who sends a letter to the President Aquino asking him to take the lead and certify the bills that pertains to the establishment of a national policy on reproductive health. Right now there are 6 RH related bills pending in the congress.

According to reports every day there are 11 mothers died during child birth and most of the cases is because of hemorrhage, infection and weak pregnancy, which according to Dr. dela Paz it can be prevented if only that mother has the choice. In areas like those in the poverty line, in every family the minimum number of child is at least 5 or more, and for some they reaches more than 8 or 9. This is where the need of family planning came in, but for others the natural method the Roman Catholic is proposing doesn’t work 100% that is why others takes the artificial contraception came in, and it was strongly opposed by the Roman Catholic.

Family Planning, this is how most supporters see the Reproductive Health, for those against it is abortion. Here are the ten elements of RH that all promote the health and welfare of each person according to Department of Health in 1998:

1. Family Planning
2. Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition
3. Adolescent Reproductive Health
4. Elimination of Violence Against Women
5. Prevention and Treatment of HIV and AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections
6. Prevention and Management of Post-Abortion Complications
7. Reproductive Tract Infections and Cancers and Other Gynecologic Conditions
8. Prevention and Treatment of Infertility and Sexual Disorders
9. Men’s Reproductive Health
10. Educatio0n and Counseling on Sexuality and Sexual Health

Reproductive Health is giving everyone a choice, according to Benjamin de Leon, it is a matter or right and RH it’s a matter of health for women where people had spoken in various surveys that there is a need of comprehensive reproductive health. De Leon statement was supported by Beth Angsioco who is a good friend of Celdran and according to her its about time to passed the RH Bill as she shows the T-Shirt with a DAMASO sign which will be sold in support of Celdran’s case and to the RH Bill campaign.

***
Editor’s Note:

It’s been a year since I show my support to the reproductive health bill, and sadly I saw its death on the last congress and still I put my hope on our congressmen this year that they will pass this. Our country needs a comprehensive maternal health care that will protect women from maternal mortality and also will answer child mortality and preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexual transmitted infection. The sad part of this campaign is that the Roman Catholic hierarchy is opposing the said possible solution that will answer those problems in the community. I am sure that they saw families in their parochial where most of those in the poverty have more than five children per family, where parents could not support them properly and some mothers die during pregnancy. Let me end this part with my stand on RH, no mothers should die in giving birth, we should have a comprehensive maternal healthcare that requires both local and national government to establish health centers in all baranggays especially in the rural areas to take care of women and men who needs reproductive health care, and also for children, RH education doesn’t talks about things that most conservative is thinking but giving them the idea on their reproductive right and how to take care and be responsible. If only people should broaden their perspective and we will lessen early pregnancy, maternal and child mortality and prevent the spread of sexual transmitted infection. I am Pro-LIFE and Pro-CHOICE.

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MDG 6: Spreading Awareness, Not the Virus

Last May 2010, a news from Malawi caught the attention of HIV/AIDS advocates and UNAIDS where a gay couple (Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga) was sentenced with 14 years imprisonment with criminal charges of "indecent practices between males" and "unnatural offenses." Both were jailed in December 2009 and released after five months after charges against them were cleared. In some countries in Africa, homosexual relationships are considered a criminal case, and UNAIDS opposes the idea of criminalizing individuals because of sexual orientation. With this kind of mindset towards the third sex, who mostly are victims of HIV/AIDS aside from the sex workers and drug addicts, it hampers the campaign of UNAIDS, HIV/AIDS advocates and non-government organizations (NGOs) to prevent the spread of the virus from one “unknown” victim to another because they were forced to go underground of the fear to be imprisoned.

Combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases are part of the United Nation Millennium Development Goal and it falls to number 6. In spite of the new technologies and “freedom” for most nations, the others see people living with AIDS as “modern lepers,” some still thinks that the virus can be transferred through sharing of public toilet, shaking hands, sweat and even just talking to the person. This is how I see it in countries that impose travel restrictions to those who are infected with the virus. It is a form of discrimination for these countries, despite having signed and agreed on the creation of UN MDG in 2010, where combating diseases, especially AIDS, were mentioned.

In the 122nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union last March 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand, UNAIDS appealed to the remaining 52 countries that have oppressive travel restrictions against people with AIDS, to lift these conditions. Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS challenges the leaders to encourage their legislators in creating a law that will safeguard the rights and welfare of people living with AIDS.

In countries like the Philippines, there are NGOs and certain health centers that offer minimal cost medical check-ups in order to test if a patient is positive or not with HIV. Former Department of Health Secretary and now the Senior Health Adviser of United Nations Population Funds (UNFPA), Dr. Esperanza Cabral went out at the streets of Metro Manila during the Valentine’s Day to distribute condoms and informed everyone on how they can prevent the spread of the virus. The Philippines has Republic Act 8504 or The Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998, where it states that the law will defend the HIV/AIDS patients from any form of discrimination from workplace, schools, hospital, and other establishments. We may have laws like RA 8504 but in reality, the said act is weak and discrimination is rampant in some offices and establishments.

The challenge for this year’s Stand-Up Take Action and Make Noise for the MDGs is call on leaders who are going on the UN Assembly in New York to create an international policy that will strengthen the rights of people living with AIDS and lift the travel restrictions. For leaders to allocate budget for information drive and testing where their countrymen will have full awareness about HIV/AIDS and to become responsible by spreading awareness to the society, and enlighten them to help prevent spreading the said virus.

***

For HIV/AIDS testing, you may visit Social Hygiene Clinic - Manila Health Department at2nd Floor,208 Quiricada Street, Sta. Cruz, Manila. For inquiries, please call +63(2)711-6942 and look for Dra. Diana Mendoza or Ms. Malou Tan, Mondays to Fridays , from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can also call the Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC) at +63(2)7438301 local 2553 for counseling. Some of the accredited HIV/AIDS treatment hubs include Philippine General Hospital (PGH - contact number +63(2)5218450), San Lazaro Hospital (SLH - contact number +63(2)7408301 local 6000), and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM - contact number +63(2)8072628 local 801). For other AIDS hotlines you may call the following: Lunduyan Foundation INC at +63(2)4214953, Pinoy Plus Association INC at +63(2)5244507, Remedios AIDS Foundation INC at +63(2)5240924, and Positive Action Foundation Philippines INC at +63(2)8326239.

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Join the 2010 AIDS Candlelight Memorial on May 28

On May 28, 2010 advocates and different organizations that concerns about HIV/AIDS will be joining together in Remedios Circle and Rajah Sulayman Park, Malate, Manila (Philippines) from 4PM to 9PM for the 2010 AIDS Candlelight Memorial. With the theme “Many Lights for Human Rights: Remember, Honor and Act” the event headed by Philippine National AIDS Council and TLF SHARE Collective, Inc aims to promote awareness on HIV and AIDS and foster solidarity and support among different communities, both public and private organizations, faith-based groups, health, social welfare, and labor sectors, civil society, local communities representing the most-at-risk and vulnerable populations, support groups and other stakeholders -- in addressing HIV and AIDS issues.

The concern on HIV/AIDS falls under the United Nation Millennium Developmental Goal # 6: Combat HIV/AIDS and other diseases. The 2010 AIDS Candlelight Memorial will promoting respect and uphold the dignity of persons living with HIV and AIDS and their families. This will also mobilize communities and individuals toward achieving participatory and meaningful engagement, and to remember and honor Filipinos who passed away due to HIV and AIDS as well as to support those who are affected.

Participants on the event were encourage to bring candles and wear red ribbons as they participate on this campaign in remembering those who left us and our struggle to combat the spread of HIV and AIDS. As I always say in my advocacy on the case of HIV and AIDS; Lets Spread Awareness and not the virus.

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UNAIDS shows concern on a Malawi court decision

May 20, Geneva, Switzerland - The UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) shows concern on the recent decision of the magistrate court in Malawi against a gay couple namely Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga. The couple was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment and hard labor.

The couple was arrested last December 2009, with criminal charges on grounds of "indecent practices between males" and "unnatural offenses." Monjeza and Chimbalanga were already detained for five months before the court gave its decision. Homosexual relationship in some countries in Africa is considered a criminal case.

UNAIDS opposes the idea of criminalizing of individuals because of the sexual orientation (same sex relationship) which is against the rights of a person and a setback for human rights that threatens public health gains in the AIDS response. The organizations sees it as a hindrance their campaign where instead of proper implementation of HIV/AIDS related projects properly they will be having hard time to communicate with this people who goes underground in regards of same sex relationship.

Aside from the 52 countries that implements travel restriction to people with AIDS that is one of the issues that UNAIDS is working, they are also calling upon more than 80 countries that have legislations prohibiting same-sex behavior. The organization urges all governments and world leaders to ensure full respect to all human rights even with their sexual orientation.

The case of same sex relationship prohibition in Malawi and other countries which UNAIDS is opposing is a threat to the United Nation Millennium Developmental Goal # 6 which is Combat HIV/AIDS and in my personal opinion it also hampers the MDG # 3 which is Gender Equality where it suppresses the rights of individuals because of their sexual orientation.

In the Philippines, there is no legislation that prohibits same sex relationship but still some of those who engaged with it face discrimination but the most important is the concern of HIV/AIDS that is connected with it. The number of reported cases of people with AIDS increases and the only thing that the government see a solution is the distribution of condom to couples and individuals. It was done by the controversial Department of Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral. She started the campaign last February 14, Valentine's Day, she distributes condoms along with proper information drive on how to prevent the spread of AIDS in the country especially among the youth who became experimental with their lives. Unlike in Malawi the government didn't oppose this campaign but the Catholic Church. They see it as a promotion of pre-marital sex and infidelity among the youth and couples. But clearly in my opinion, condom promotes safety from the spread of virus, including maternal health care to avoid early pregnancy among womens who are not prepared, and sometimes with health reasons it can cause their lives.

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UNAIDS and Parliamentarians appeal lifting of travel restriction on people with AIDS

March 28 Bangkok, Thailand – In the 122nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, parliamentarians from all over the world joined UNAIDS to appeal to the governments of the 52 countries to remove travel restrictions for people living with HIV/AIDS.

In the message of Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS during the opening session last March 28, he strongly stated.“We need your help to build and strengthen governmental response and accountability or we will not reach our goal of Universal Access to HIV prevention, treatment and care services or the Millennium Development Goals—two commitments that your governments have signed onto and which are necessary to overcome HIV.

“I know that the AIDS epidemic consistently places complicated demands on you, the world’s lawmakers. This is because HIV links public health and human rights in a way that requires governments to work harder to achieve health, education, non-discrimination and gender equality for all those vulnerable to or living with HIV. Where we don’t achieve these, the epidemic continues to rage.”

“Law, law enforcement and access to justice are the three components of the legal environment that are critical to achieving these HIV-related human rights. But we have made much less progress in creating the legal and social environments necessary to deliver a future generation free of HIV.”

Sidibé emphasized HIV/AIDS was included on the MDGs (Number 6 –Combat AIDS, Malaria and other diseases), and all the world leaders signed this agreement to achieve this campaign. Unfortunately, the number of human rights violation against people with AIDS increased--including the travel restriction imposed by the 52 countries: Andorra, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Bahrain, Belarus, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Comoros, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt , Fiji, India, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen.

Supporting the aims of UNAIDS, IPU gave its support by urging this countries--especially its fellow legislators--to join the fight against discrimination and human rights violation– specifically the people with AIDS/HIV—and to reduce the stigma to those who were infected with the virus. The two organizations encouraged lawmakers to support the legislation that will enforce the protection of people infected with HIV.

UNAIDS's AIDSspace is an online community for connecting people, sharing knowledge and providing services for the 33.4 million people living with HIV and the millions engaged in the AIDS response
Sidibé, challenged the parliamentarians to lead and play a vital role in removing discriminatory laws and restrictions against people with HIV/AIDS.

The 122nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union was a 6-day conference (March 27-April) of the members of the IPU. The organization was established in 1889 and has 143 countries as members. IPU gained permanent observer status in the United Nations.

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DOH Sec. Cabral on AIDS, Maternal Health, Child Mortality and Church

March 13, Makati City – During the Mulat Pinoy Kapihan series of Philippine Center for Population and Development (PCPD) and the Probe Foundation in Bo’s Coffee in Glorietta 5, Makati City on the topic of population and health, the controversial Department of Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral answered questions concerning HIV/AIDS, maternal health issue and child mortality and her debate with the Catholic Church.

Watch the full video of my interview with DOH Sec. Cabral.

Sec Cabral is a brilliant woman who's in my opinion a champion of women and health care in DOH and know how to stand if it is needed despite of conflict of belief and faith.

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DOH Secretary Esperanza Cabral talks about HIV/AIDS concerns on The Bottomline

Department of Health Secretary has admitted that the government has 200 million pesos (US$ 4.35 million) to advertise its condom campaign alone.

Secretary Cabral faces the controversial issues hurled at her this Saturday on “The Bottomline with Boy Abunda” with Boy Abunda.

Dubbed as immoral and ‘has one foot in hell’, several bishops have already called for Secretary Cabral’s resignation because of her indestructible support for condom distribution in the country.

She was not only being criticized by the church sector. A fellow doctor and former DOH official called her ignorant of the real situation and even accused her of having personal interest in the campaign.

Witness how Secretary Esperanza Cabral faces all the controversies as she shares her unyielding stance about the distribution of condoms in the Philippines on “The Bottomline with Boy Abunda” on ABS-CBN, after Banana Split’s primetime telecast.

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Department of Health elevates HIV/AIDS status to epidemic

After the alarming increase of HIV/AIDS cases that reaches almost 4,400 reported infected patients and the possible 30,000 total cases by 2010. The Department of Health declares epidemic status to HIV/AIDS in the Philippines. When you say epidemic it a condition that it is affecting or tending to affect a large percent of the population, community, or region at the same time which right now HIV/AIDS is no longer involving sex workers alone instead new cases involves migrants, professionals and even the youth. With the campaign of DOH that is distribution and usage of condoms among professionals and youth, the Catholic Church opposes this idea they say that with this campaign it promotes premarital sex and extramarital sex in the society. According to them the DOH must strengthen the campaign for information dissemination and teach the society prevention from people involving premarital sex and extramarital sex and get infected with the virus. DOH answers back that in the issue of morality it is the responsibility of the Church to educate their followers on that aspect and they only doing what is mandated to them by the government.

Read my entry about Addressing the Stigma of AIDS to get the latest information straight from the HIV Positive patients and the Philippine National AIDS Council.

To keep posted on HIV/AIDS updates on this blog click category http://www.angsawariko.com/search/label/aids

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Addressing the stigma of HIV/AIDS

The number of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)/AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) cases in the Philippines increases from the 3, 911 on May 2009, it increases to 4424 cases; but according to Dr. Susan Gregorio of Philippine National AIDS Council on their studies is says that as of 2007, there are already 7,500 cases reported and there are possibilities that it may reach 9,000 this year. Dr Gregorio mentions that there are situations that a possible carrier may not be aware that he or she has HIV because symptoms may appear 2 to 8 years after the infection, and the fear of the results hinders a patient to engage him/herself to a test.

During the Dialogue @ Starbucks last February 11,2010 at the Starbucks 6750 Ayala Avenue, Makati City, Wanggo Gallaga, a writer/editor in a leading lifestyle magazine shares how he was infected with the virus and how it affects his life. Wanggo openly says that he was “promiscuous” in his life before, enjoying the adventure he encounters and deals with drugs and unsafe sex. Wanggo said that we should know our sexual right, learning to say no to unsafe sex especially on women that mostly are victims if this circumstances. He firmly says that information and awareness is the only thing we have to stop the virus. Here is Wanggo's video during the dialogue:



With Wanggo is Jericho Paterno, who is a migrant and an HIV positive, he got the virus after having an affair with a Nepal migrant who is also working in the Middle East. After being diagnosed with the virus he was deported and afraid to face his family at first. Paterno thought that he will die soon after being diagnose, but he is thankful that he is still alive and has the chance to take part of the awareness campaign to avoid additional possible cases like him and Wanggo. He says that people should not look on HIV/AIDS as part of the problem, but see them as part solutions, and through this group of people who is infected with virus and came out in public with their stories and real identity it will help a lot on spreading the information to all. Here is the video of Paterno during the dialogue:



From the population of HIV/AIDS cases 75% where male having sex with male and 25% of male having sex with female. There are bigger tendencies that the virus can be transmitted to unsafe anal penetration according to Dr. Gregorio. In regards with the life support of the infected patients there are global aid supporting them but unfortunately as of now that aid will only last until 2012.

AIDS is part of the United Nation Millennium Goal which ranks at number six in the list, but despite of the support of all nations being members of UN, there are countries who implemented restriction on HIV/AIDS patients entering countries:
According to UN AIDS coordinator to the Philippines Teresita Bagasao, she says that UNAIDS is talking now with this country who restricts HIV/AIDS patients who enters their territory. "They are also people like them", Bagasao firmly says during our small conversation during the dialogue. People who has AIDS is considered as modern lepers and that is the stigma that infected cases and advocates wanted to address, that people who has the virus is the same people like us and they should be discriminated.

During the time of President Fidel V Ramos, he acted a law that will safeguard the welfare of HIV/AIDS patient and that is Republic Act 8504 or The Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998, it states that the law will defend the HIV/AIDS patients from any form of discrimination from workplace, schools, hospital, and other establishments. Unfortunately the law may be powerful but its implementation is weak. There are cases of discrimination but the victim gives up avoiding further damage according to Dr. Gregorio, this revelation saddens me.

There are several ways on how the virus is transmitted, commonly through unsafe sex, blood transfusion; sharing of needles through drugs and direct passing of blood from the infected to non-infected person, child birth - a mother who is infected with the virus can pass the virus though her child, it is also form of direct blood transfusion, and lastly through breastfeeding, a newly infected mother can pass the virus to her baby though breast feeding.

For HIV/AIDS testing you can visit Social Hygiene Clinic - Manila Health Department, 2nd Floor of 208 Quiricada Street, Sta. Cruz, Manila, for inquiries contact for inquiries, call 711-6942 and look for Dra. Diana Mendoza or Ms. Malou Tan, Monday to Friday only from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Or you can call Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC) at 7438301 local 2553 for counseling. Some of the accredited HIV/AIDS treatment hubs include Philippine General Hospital (PGH - contact number 5218450), San Lazaro Hospital (SLH - contact number 7408301 local 6000), and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM - contact number 8072628 local 801). For other AIDS Hotline you can call; Lunduyan Foundation INC (4214953), Pinoy Plus Association INC (5244507), Remedios AIDS Foundation INC (5240924), and Positive Action Foundation Philippines INC (8326239).

It's been almost a year now when I started by awareness campaign on HIV/AIDS through Think Positive a GMA 7's documentary, and finally involves myself as a blogger who advocates on this concern when I sat with a friend who confesses that he is an HIV Positive. Until now I never stop spreading the awareness on HIV/AIDS and firm with my stand, each one has a responsibility to spread the information and awareness on this matter, infected or not, I am not an HIV infected but I have the responsibility to myself to spreading the awareness and the learning I had in all AIDS/HIV forums I had to my readers. Have your stand now and take your part on this global issue. As all HIV/AIDS advocates say spread the awareness not the virus.

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