Southern Leyte PHO to open HIV/AIDS testing hub in Jan. 2020

By: Jani Arnaiz - CDN Digital | January 11,2020 - 09:26 AM

Dr. Ionne L. Castilliones

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte – A treatment hub will be opened this month at the Salvacion Oppus Yniguez Memorial Provincial Hospital (SOYMPH) located at the Dogon Village in Maasin City to cater to patients who are infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS).

Dr. Ionne L. Castilliones, Southern Leyte Provincial Health Officer, said the facility will offer free testing and treatment services including maintenance medicines to HIV/AIDS patients.

“AIDS is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition that can damage the immune system, in which HIV interferes with the body’s ability to fight organisms that cause diseases.”

“We are ready to cater to patients with HIV/AIDS,” Castillones said.

The Provincial Health Office (PHO) has recorded a total of 91 HIV/AIDS cases from 1984 to March 2019. Of which, 24 cases were reported in Maasin City.

Castillones said that they are yet to verify the number of deaths from among the HIV/AIDS patients.

SOYMPH nurse Searchie Baylan said that the patients acquired the infection during their travels outside of Southern Leyte.

“They acquired (their infection) from other locality but since they are from the province they came home with the virus,” Baylan said.

The increase in HIV/AIDS cases in the province prompted PHO to establish the provincial treatment hub which they will open within the month.

Medical Technologist Bianca Pangilinan said that personnel who will be assigned at the provincial treatment hub underwent a five-day orientation in December 2019. / dcb

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Read Next

Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.

TAGS: HIV/AIDS, Maasin City, medicines, PHO, Southern Leyte

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. To find out more, please click this link.