Sescon JN, Rivera A, Ortega NL; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 2000 Jul 9-14; 13: abstract no. MoOrB124.
J.N.M. Sescon, Remedios AIDS Foundation, 1066 Remedios Street Malate 1004, Manila, Philippines, Tel.: +632 524 0924, Fax: +632 522 3431, E-mail: josescon@pacific.net.ph
Background: Prevention through education, this is the guiding principle of the Remedios AIDS Foundation (RAF), a Philippine NGO, that has been working for nine years on HIV/AIDS preventive efforts. Since the first case of HIV in 1984, program interventions conducted by both government and nongovernment agencies have worked towards preventive efforts. In the midst of a growing epidemic, care services for PHIV/PWAS is a need not only in terms of providing the medical aspect of the disease, but also the psychosocial aspect as well. The need to integrate care services with the current preventive program intervention has been seen as a priority need. Methods: Key informant interviews, validated by focus group discussions (FGDS) were conducted among 150 NGO workers, health practitioners and families/friends of PLWAS, PHIV/PWAS to determine the present status of care services on HIV/AIDS in the Philippines. The paper focused on what are the existing "care and support" initiatives conducted in the light of dwindling antiretroviral therapy. Structure and mechanism of referral systems within the community for both government and nongovernment agencies were reviewed in the context of how care service is delivered. Results: There are little to no care and support services available in the different provinces. Drugs for basic treatment of opportunistic infections are not available. Services are centralized in Manila once a PHIV/PWAS has been diagnosed in the province. Health care providers do not have the expertise on care and support. Families of PHIV/PWAS are not educated in performing care services thus dependent on the government for services. Conclusion: The need to review care and support referral services should be done. Decentralization of care services has to be made so that central cities are not overburdened of these cases. Capability building initiatives among NGO workers and health care providers is a must particularly on home based care. Care and support interventions are best conducted while the magnitude of the disease is still low and manageable.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Delivery of Health Care
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Health
- Health Planning
- Health Services
- Health Services Needs and Demand
- Philippines
- Politics
- education
- therapy
Other ID:
UI: 102237694
From Meeting Abstracts