Talisay hospital opens door for HIV patients

Talisay City’s social hygiene clinic and its district hospital were recently declared by the Department of Health as a primary HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) care facility and treatment hub, respectively.

Patients tested positive for HIV are usually referred to the primary treatment center at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

But with the declaration dated January 18, Dr. Rey Ceasar Bautista, a social hygiene physician, said patients diagnosed with HIV can now be treated in the district hospital.

“Karon pwede na i-treat directly diri sa Talisay. Dili na i-adto sa laing lugar except sa laboratory,” he said.

More medicines will also be allotted for the city’s health services, particularly HIV treatment.

At present, the city is treating at least seven HIV patients, who are required to visit the clinic regularly for their dose of medicine.

The social hygiene clinic has been operational as HIV facility for around three years since 2015, said Bautista.

At least four HIV reactive patients also visit the clinic for screening every month.

The city has recorded 130 HIV positive patients since 1984.

Fortunately, Bautista said the number of patients with HIV is not increasing.

He said it is important to undergo HIV testing or screening, so that they could identify those infected with the disease and could be enrolled into an antiretroviral treatment so that the patient could not infect people anymore. The screening will be done at the clinic.

HIV can be transmitted through sexual intercourse, blood transfusion, mother to child, contaminated needle-sharing, and through intravenous drug use.