CONCEALED DEATH

Some families of the deceased are not reporting that their family members have passed away due to complications from HIV/Aids

Deaths due to Human Immunodefiency Virus (HIV) Acquired Immunodefiency Syndrome (Aids) sometimes do not reflect in the death certificates of the deceased out of respect to the families.

Reproductive Health and Wellness Center (RHWC) head Dr. Jordana Ramiterre said in an interview with Sunstar Davao yesterday that the reason they are having difficulties obtaining reported death cases of HIV/Aids because some of the families have not yet reported it due to the stigma and discrimination that they would possibly receive.

She said death certificates are public documents and can be seen by other people. Therefore, the cause of death due to complication from HIV/Aids is not stated on the certificates out of respect for the family and the deceased.

“Hindi naman necessary outright Aids yung ilagay doon but ano ba yung preceded causes (It is not necessary Aids will be put in the certificate but instead it will be the preceded causes),” Ramiterre said.

She added that the cause of death that will be recorded by the physician is the patient’s immediate cause of death like pneumonia or tuberculosis.

“It would be understandable to our medical personnel but not everyone understands it,” Ramiterre said.

She also said that when an HIV/Aids patient dies in a hospital the death report or Form D will be sent to the Epidemiology Bureau of Department of Health (DOH) but the privacy of the deceased is strictly observed.

Meanwhile, it has been reported recently that there were estimated 125 death cases of HIV/Aidsin the city since 1984. Ramittere added that this data shows that treatment is effective among the infected who take medication regularly due to low number of mortality.

“We don’t want deaths because ARV (antiretroviral drugs) is life-saving,” Ramiterre said.

Hindi naman necessary outright Aids yung ilagay doon but ano ba yung preceded causes.

DR. JORDANA RAMITERRE Reproductive Health and Wellness Center (RHWC) head