The Mandaue City government can now accommodate HIV/STD cases with the establishment of a new drop-in center at the Social Hygiene Center of City Health department.
The drop-in center for HIV/STD cases is one of Cebu’s two drop-in centers. The other one is in barangay Kamagayan, Cebu City.
The center opened last Thursday with a short program at the conference room of City Health where Benjamin Basiga representing Mayor Jonas Cortes, Dr. Seno, ADB health specialist Gerard Servais, World Bank Human Development specialist Sutayut Osornprasop, and other project stakeholders and members of the HIV Prevention in Big Cities Project signed a pledge of commitment.
The project is funded by the private institutions, including Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank.
City Health officer Dr. Edna Seno said that persons suspected to have acquired HIV or sexually transmitted disease may visit the drop-in center so they will be given the needed services including counseling.
The Philippines now ranks 7th in the world as having a rapid growth rate of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among high risk population, especially male to male sex (MSM).
This increase, according to the National Epidemiology Center of the Department of Health, is fast and furious, demands for a robust response through prevention, diagnostic, treatment, care and support services.
According to Servais, many of these services are available in Metro Cebu but these are not widely known nor readily available when needed.
He said the Philippine government received technical assistance from the ADB and World Bank for the implementation of AIDS Medium-Term Plan V, particularly on generating evidence on cost-effective and high impact HIV prevention interventions, including HIV service models for males who have sex with males and people who inject drugs.
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