From the report, the following observations were noted:

1. Three of the 204 reported HIV positive cases were AIDS and all was acquired through sexual contact.
2. Males comprised 90 percent of the cases.
3. Age range for the reported cases were 17 to 55 years old. It was the 20-29 year age group that had the most number of cases at 63 percent.
4. 107 of the 204 reported cases were from the National Capital Region.
5. Modes of transmission were sexual contact (193) and needle sharing among injecting drug users (11). Males having sex with males were the predominant type of sexual transmission at 81 percent.
6. Two deaths were reported for July.

For the full report, download it here.

        

Some other observations are here as follows:

1. Ninety four (94) percent of the infected individuals were males.
2. The age range for these people are between 15 to 58 years old. Median age is 28.
3. It was the 20-29 year age-group that had the most number of cases at 60 percent.
4. The 173, who reported mode of transmission, pointed sexual contact.
5. Males having sex with males is still the predominant type of sexual transmission.
6. No deaths were reported for June.
7. Sixty two (62) percent of the cases reported were from the National Capital Region.
8. Out of the 178 reported cases, 22 were overseas Filipino workers.

        

Who: Department of Foreign Affairs, United Nations Development Programme, Action for Health Initiatives, Inc. (ACHIEVE) and the Foreign Service Institute.

What: Will commemorate the 27th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial with the theme “Touching Lives.”

When: May 26, Thursday, 2:30 – 5:30 PM.

Where: Bulwagang Apolinario Mabini (Dept. of Foreign Affairs Auditorium). DFA, Roxas Boulevard, Manila.

Speakers include the following:

Dr. Jacqui Badcock, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative

Hon. Leslie B. Gatan, Assistant Secretary for United Nations and International Organizations, Dept. of Foreign Affairs

Ms. Krista Kleiner, Bb. Pilipinas International 2011

Owie Franco, former OFW in Saudi Arabia

Imelda, spouse of an OFW

The speakers can be interviewed at 5:30 PM after the Lotus Ceremony and the reading of the names of Filipinos who have died from the HIV/AIDS pandemic. There will also be an opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the photo exhibit by Niccolo Cosme called “RESPLENDOR, which documents the images of HIV/AIDS in the Philippines.

Why: As of March this year, 1,585 OFWs have been recorded in the National HIV Registry of the Department of Health. They comprise 25% of the total HIV cases in the country since 1984. While this number may be a result of compulsory testing of OFWs to fulfill the requirements of overseas employment, it still indicates that a response must be done to help reduce the HIV vulnerabilities of our OFWs. Thus, the AIDS Candlelight Memorial ceremony this year focuses on our so-called modern-day heroes, whose lives have been blighted by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Reference:

Danton R. Remoto, UNDP Communications Officer
Mobile Phone: 0917-800-5002
Telephone: 901-0239
E-mail:danton.remoto@undp.org

        

One of the most commonly asked questions about HIV is probably, “What are the symptoms?”.

The short answer to that question is “Sometimes, there are no symptoms at  all and the only way to find out is to get tested.”

Which leads to a bunch of other questions like where can I get tested? How much does it cost? And what actually happens when you get tested?

During the Project Headshot Clinic photo shoot for World AIDS Day, free VCT (voluntary counselling and testing) was offered for free in cooperation with the Manila City Health Office. Though I have gotten an HIV anti-body test before, it was always in a hospital and always as part of a requirement for something else. I never went through the whole process of pre and post counseling — which under the law RA 8504 or the AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998, I am entitled to.

I decided to get an HIV anti-body test again and this time, document the process step by step so you’ll know what to expect.

1. Pre-counselling

During the pre-counselling session, you will be given the following information:

1. What an HIV anti-body test is: In this case, I took the rapid test where you get your results after 15 minutes. There are other forms of blood testing which take longer. Your counselor should explain which method is going to be used and how long it will take for the results to be made available.
2. The four modes of transmission: blood, vaginal secretions, semen, and mother-to-child transmission. Your counselor should explain  how HIV is transmitted through each mode and the range of  prevention methods such as condom use, using clean needles.
3. Explain the two possible results – reactive (positive) and non-reactive (negative) and what it means
4. You will be asked details about your personal history to identify what behaviors are high-risk like injecting drug use. You will be asked when you last had sexual contact and if it was unprotected or not.

If you are under 18, by law, parental consent will have to be secured.

Step 2: Fill out and sign consent forms

Mandatory testing is illegal in the Philippines. You cannot be forced to take an HIV anti-body test and your signature on the consent form signifies that you are taking the test voluntarily.

What is important to know that you have the right not to disclose your real name. This is very important to know as I once asked about testing using a pseudonym in a health clinic in Shangri-La only to be asked, “But how will we know which is your test result?”.

As you can see from the forms that I filled out, I used the name “SASSY P.”. You just have to remember what pseudonym you used when claiming your test results.

An exception to the mandatory testing rule are  OFWs whose destination country requires an HIV anti-body test as a pre-employment requirement. In that case, the OFW has to adhere to the rules of the destination country.

Step 3: Getting a blood sample

After pre-counselling and signing of all necessary forms, you will need to give a blood sample. A health care professional (a nurse or doctor) should administer this using a fresh syringe which will be unwrapped before you.

Step 4: Wait for test result

A drop of your blood will be placed in a thing that looks very much like a pregnancy test except that it is labelled HIV-1/2.

Since this is the  HIV Rapid Test, results will be ready after 10-15 minutes.  One line means non-reactive or negative. Two lines mean reactive or positive for HIV1 and three lines means positive for HIV 2.

Step 5: Post-counselling

You will undergo post (test) counselling regardless of your test result.

If your test results are negative, your counselor will reinforce the importance of the ABCDE’s so you maintain your negative status:

A – abstinence

B – be faithful

C – correct and consistent use of condoms

D – don’t do drugs

E – educate yourself continuously

You will also be encouraged to get tested every 6 months if you engage in risky sexual behavior.

If positive, your blood will have to undergo confirmatory testing. All confirmatory testing is centralized in San Lazaro. It could take up to two weeks for test results to be released.

The counselor will explain why there is a need for confirmatory testing. You will also be helped to deal with the two week waiting period. Lastly, your counselor will tell you what your treatment options are and help link you with support groups.

If your test result is confirmed as reactive (positive), you will be asked to fill up a National Epidemiology Center form for the DOH HIV/AIDS Registry where your results will be registered.

Your should know that your test results – whether reactive (positive) or not — will be released only to you in person. Test results cannot be released via phone nor can you get an authorized representative to pick up the results on your behalf.

While your counselor will hand you your test results, you are not required to disclose them to him/her.

GETTING TESTED:

The HIV anti-body test is offered for free in most social hygiene or reproductive health and wellness centers, which are under the City Health Office of your municipality.

You can also go to the RAF (Remedios AIDS Foundation) Health Clinic & Laboratory located at 1072 Remedios St. corner Singalong, Malate, Manila.

Contact Cecil Anonuevo executive director of (Remedios AIDS Foundation) RAF Health Clinic & Laboratory for more information  at #524-0924.

Cost of RAF testing, as of Nov 2010:

HIV Test – P 750.00

STI Package Testing – Package C + Chlamydia gram stain – Php1,700

        

The headline in the Philippine Star read: GOV’T GIVES OUT CONDOMS.

The story was about the now infamous initiative by the Department of Health to promote safer sex during Valentine’s Day which may be some kind of mating season in our country as evidenced by the number of couples in heat queuing in restaurants and motels.

(Yes, there are queues at motels. What is even more amazing is that some people actually patiently wait in their car until a room is available. Talk about a need to breed — a date to fornicate.)

The little ballsy act of giving love in the form of condoms by the newly appointed Department of Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral made the bishops absolutely livid.

Huffing and puffing, they condemned the immorality of giving away condoms, saying it was “lewd”, “vulgar” and “gross”.

They demanded Cabral’s resignation; they asked for her head on a silver platter. If this whole saga were any more remiscent of the 16^th century, they would probably insist that Cabral be burned at the stake.

Even the little rubbers were not spared. The bishops went on a character assassination challenging the integrity of condoms, saying that its use does not prevent the spread of HIV. They insinuated that condoms even promoted it because it encouraged people to be promiscious. They strongly suggested that the possibility of printing a warning on condom packs, similar to what is written on cigarette packs be printed.

And Cabral’s reponse? As reported in the PDI, the DOH Secretary calmly said the health department’s intensified condom distribution program was justified given the unprecedented rise in the number of AIDS cases.

She also said that “while it is very important for us to find out what [the Catholic bishops] think, to cooperate with them in areas where we can be cooperating, the government is the government and must do what it thinks is right for everybody. Not everybody in the Philippines belongs to one church.”

Quite sensibly enough, Sec Cabral ended her statement saying that the DoH was “always willing to discuss and negotiate” the matter with Catholic Church officials.

Sex and Sensibilities lauds Secretary Cabral’s conviction and would like to site another woman  who also wants to stop giving the love glove a bad name.

Dr. Logan Levkoff is a sexologist and an AASECT (American Association of Sex Counselors, Educators and Therapists) — certified sexuality educator. She wrote an ode to condoms which was published in the Huffington Post during National Condom Week last February 15.

As Sex and Sensibilities named this week its own LOVE GLOVE Week, we are re-posting Dr. Levkoff’s ode for everyone’s reading pleasure. This is also meant to be a gesture of raising our glass to toast Secretary Cabral and her concrete efforts to stop the spread of unwanted pregnancies and HIV / AIDS .  

So dear condom (both male and female), how do I love thee?
You allow me to freely engage in sex without worry.
You allow me to protect my fertility, now and in the future.
You allow me to have protection against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
You allow me to shatter the incorrect messages about sex that so many young (and older) people get by enabling me to teach students that there are ways to safely explore sex – when they are ready.
You allow me to promote responsibility as a quality that one must look for in a partner.

So little condom, I know that I am married. I know that I have children. I know that I have been monogamous for a very long time. However, I am still committed to you. Each and every time. I won’t have sex without you.

        

The report cites a study made by the University of the Philippines Population Institute which shows that:

• 40% of call center agents carry on inter-office affairs, as compared to 8% of non -call center employees
• 50% male and 13% female call center agents reported to have engaged or are engaging in casual sex
• 19% of female call center agents have had unprotected sex versus 8% of female non-call center agents
• 1 out 10 female call center agents reported having more than one sexual partner
• 5 out of 10 male call center agents reported having sex with other men

The congregation of a relatively young work force (most call center agents are in their mid-20s) , combined with the late nights and weird working hours (there are bars that host their “happy hour” early in the morning to cater to the call center agents who are just getting off work), may make it conducive — convenient even — to have casual sex.  But as the TV Patrol report shows, call center agents disagree, saying that temptation is present in every work place, and not just in call centers and that ultimately, the decision to engage in risky sexual behavior is a personal choice.

SAS interviewed other call center agents to get their view and here’s what they have to say:

“I’m wondering where they got their sample. While the conditions in the workplace (i.e. being isolated from family and friends) could facilitate more sexual contact between people in the same industry, this [citing of call centers] seems like a gross exaggeration. True or not, sexual responsibility should always be promoted regardless of which industry you work in.”  – Andrew, 27, has been working for a call center for 1 year

“I heard lots of stories from senior agents. It always starts with drinking. I guess because most [employees] are young and naive. The internet may also a factor.”  – Gilbert, 28, working in a call center for 5 months

Do you think call centers are hotbeds for office affairs and casual sex encounters?  Let us know what you think.