DOH Sees Possibility of Finding More Inmates with HIV

The Department of Health (DOH) said that the possibility of seeing more inmates being positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is not far to happen.

In an interview, DOH Secretary Dr. Paulyn Ubial said that inmates in jails as well as those who were staying in the orphanage were included as part of the target to have 20 million poorest Filipinos provided with “medical check-up”.

Ubial said that with that on-going check-up that started last year, the more people living with HIV that were inside jails could be found soon.

“We consider them part of the 20 million poorest. So we are looking at them now, and provide check up to all the institutionalized people,” said Ubial.

She added that HIV positive inmates in QC are just part of it. “So we will see a more complete picture by the end of the month,” said Ubial.

The check-ups are being done as part of the goal to ensure that poorest Filipinos needing medical assistance will not be deprived and prioritized.

The check-up wants to ensure that delivery of the needed medical intervention will not be delayed to the said poor population based on the desire of the President Rodrigo R. Duterte to ensure that medical interventions are in placed for those who have less in life.

Earlier, the QC Jail reported that a number of inmates had been tested positive for HIV.

Last October, Ubial said the DOH should be shifting their campaign versus HIV from the general population to the most-at-risk population (MARPs).

She also mentioned how they consider MARPs the men-having-sex-with-men (MSMs), commercial sex workers (CSWs), and injecting drug users (IDUs).

Ubial added that the sectors of jailed inmates, and those undergoing drug rehabilitation should also be considered as MARPs.(PNA)
LEILANI S. JUNIO