Alarmed by the rising number of people infected with HIV-AIDS, the local government of Quezon City has directed the City Pride Council to include mandatory HIV-AIDS testing for all lesbians, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) members in its plans and programs.
Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista said the significance of the rights of the LGBTQI sector and the need to formulate plans and programs that uphold their vision and mission, during the council’s meeting recently.
“The HIV testing should be mandatory on all our projects. There is a strong rise of HIV in the Philippines, particularly in [Metro Manila], more specifically in Quezon City. And HIV or AIDS happens because of [unprotected] MSM or male having sex with male,” Bautista said during the council meeting.
Quezon City has six sundown clinics that specifically caters to individuals vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases, namely Klinika Bernardo in Project 7 and Novaliches that are open from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.; and three social hygiene clinics: Klinika Bernardo, Klinika Batasan and Klinika Project 7.
These facilities offer counselling, free HIV testing diagnosis and treatment of other sexually transmitted infections, education, distribution and proper use of condoms, hepatitis B testing and vaccination and anti-retro viral therapy. While Klinika Bernardo in Barangay Pinagkaisahan offers free HIV testing.
“The leaders of Pride Council should encourage people living with HIV to come out and be not afraid, as we will help them in their medication to be able to lead a normal life despite infection,” Bautista said.
United Nations data reveals that the Philippines has the highest HIV infection growth rate in Asia Pacific with 140 percent increase in the number of infections last year.
In 2016 about 10,500 Filipinos were infected with the HIV up from 4,300 in 2010, according to the Department of Health.