Talisay eyes to establish HIV treatment hub

The Talisay City Health Office is planning to establish a primary treatment hub for HIV cases in the city.

Aftercare Head Dr. Rey Cesar Bautista said it is advantageous to those patients residing in Talisay to receive treatment in the city.

"We are aiming to become a primary treatment hub. Kay ang gusto sa Talisay Health Center, kita na ang mutambal, para sayon na para nila, dili na muadto sa Cebu City kay naa nay duol, naa na sa Talisay, " Bautista said.

As of the present, Talisay City is a satellite treatment hub for HIV with a social hygiene clinic located within the Poblacion Health Center.

Bautista explained that constituents who test positive for HIV are being referred to the primary treatment centers for HIV, either in Vicente Sotto Medical Center or in Cebu City Health Office.

Primary hubs are the ones that distribute the stocks of medicine to the patients.

The task of the satellite hub is to monitor if patients are religiously taking their daily dosage of treatment.

"Ang HIV treatment is for the rest of their lives, lifetime. Ang concern sa Talisay satelite hub kay importante is mapainom sa patients daily," he said.

Bautista said that since 1984 until the present, there have been 95 patients in Talisay who have been found positive for HIV, although he did not to to disclose the current number of patients living in the city this year.

He urged constituents to visit the city and undergo the screening process in order for HIV cases to be detected early.

Talisa City Health Doctor Lino Alanzado said that based on a 2015 study, the common cause for HIV is men having sex with other men.

He explained that HIV is acquired through sexual intercourse particularly those who engage in same sex intercourse, unsafe sex, and sharing of drug injections.

Alanzado said that the Epidemiology Bureau of the Department of Health gave their full support and encouragement to the Talisay City Health Office for the establishment of a treatment hub, in anticipation that the number of HIV patients will increase.

However, both Alanzado and Bautista said establishing a primary treatment hub would take time, adding that they need to comply first on the requirements.

Both Alanzado and Bautista have also been attending trainings and seminars to qualify for certification as Social Hygiene Clinic Physician to treat patients with HIV.