MCI Students Association Holds Forum on Raising
Awareness
of the Rise of HIV/AIDS in Davao City
Davao City (September 13, 2014)
MCI Student Association invited Dr. Jing
Ramiterre of the Reproductive Health and Wellness Center of the Davao City
Health Office (CHO, which tackles the prevention, treatment, care, and support
of individuals living with AIDS and those that are vulnerable to HIV. Dr.
Ramittere explained the variety of strategies and initiatives available to
address this pandemic among the youth. The doctor said that HIV/AIDS is a virus
that gradually attacks our immune system’s cells and progressively damages our
cells making the body weak and thus unable to resist infections. It takes five
to ten years for HIV to damage the immune system enough for HIV/AIDS to
develop. Dr. Ramiterre also stressed the importance of religious sectors’
efforts to prevent the spread of the virus to vulnerable groups by giving them
valuable educational measures. According to Dr. Ramiterre, the DOH ranked
Davao City the fifth highest in growth in the
number of HIV cases in the country at nine to ten percent. Moreover, the forum
emphasized the Philippine AIDS law, The Republic Act (R.A 8504) addresses
education and information, counseling, and confidentiality. The physician
emphasized the value of community support, accurate information in HIV/AIDS,
medical confidentiality of individuals who are HIV/AIDS positive, and
disclosure to partners. An affected individual has not only rights to
confidentiality about his /her status but also freedom from discrimination in
any form, according to the Discrimination Act. Dr. Ramittere praised the MCI
Student Association Forum for educating youth and raising awareness of the rise
of HIV/AIDS. According to Dr. Ramiterre, the greatest obstacle here is
behaviors because social media make youth more vulnerable. He commented,
“That’s why I am thankful for MCI Student Association educating people to
reflect on their behavior." Dr. Ramiterre stressed the best ways
to prevent HIV/AIDS is “ABCDE: abstinence from sex, be faithful, condom use, do
not use drugs, and education.” She concluded, “But at the end, one partner
for life is the best safeguard.”