Central Visayas Health Officials Urge People to Undergo HIV/AIDS Test

(PNA) — Central Visayas health officials have urged people who are in doubt to have themselves tested for free for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) that leads to the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

Among those offering free HIV/AIDS testing are the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City, the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) and the health offices in the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu City.

Dr. Chamberlain Agtuca, a member of the VSMMC HIV/AIDS Core Team, said they assisted an average 60 persons per month who come to their facility to have themselves tested for HIV/AIDS.

Agtuca said that over the years, the number of people who come to VSMMC for HIV/AIDS testing has doubled.

Most of them are young adults, he said.

The Department of Health (DOH) 7 is celebrating HIV/AIDS Testing Week this week.

Agtuca said the increased awareness of the disease and the presence of support groups contributed to the increase in the number of persons confirmed to be living with HIV/AIDS.

Dr. Lakshmi Legaspi, DOH-7 assistant director, said the agency has intensified its campaign to promote voluntary testing and provide anti-retroviral medicines for persons found positive of HIV/AIDS.

She also urged local government units to intensify the DOH’s campaign to get more people to undergo voluntary testing. (PNA) LAP/EB/EDS