TAWI-TAWI — The Ministry of Health in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOH-BARMM) has recently opened healthcare facility that will provide its residents with access to HIV and AIDS treatment and care.
Minister Kadil M. Sinolinding, Jr., MD, led other officials in the launch of the HACT Clinic on Aug. 26 (Monday).
Sinolinding underscored the significance of the HACT Clinic, saying that “it will serve as a beacon of hope in BARMM’s collective fight against HIV and AIDS,” reassuring his constituents of the local government’s commitment to fair healthcare that is accessible and affordable for everyone.
Dr. Rowell Quiogue, HACT Physician, shared his hope for BARMM’s HACT Clinic to “eventually break the HIV and AIDS stigma,” leading to “a community where acceptance and support reign supreme.”
“It also helps that people are aware of such services, that the Tawi-Tawi Province has a testing and treatment facility, and that people living with HIV (PLHIV) may no longer need to go to nearby provinces to avail of such services,” Quiogue conveyed.
Taking pride in the facility, Dr. Sangkula G. Laja, Provincial Health Officer II, described it as “the first HIV and AIDS Treatment Hub” located at Datu Halun Sakilan Memorial Hospital Provincial Hospital in Tawi-Tawi to represent a “major advancement in healthcare” for the province.
“This puts Tawi-Tawi in the spotlight as the first in BARMM to have its own HIV Treatment Hub,” he noted.
According to Bai Princess Allyssa Baraguir-Akmad, RN, MPA
HIV Program Coordinator in the region she cited that from 1984 to June 2024, 41 cases of HIV infection have been reported in Tawi-Tawi.
“All 41 cases voluntarily submitted to be screened and tested. Therefore, if they screen and test, it’s probable that there will be more cases. However, they shouldn’t be alarmed because it’s better for them to be aware of their status so they may take preventative measures and receive medication to extend their lives,” the HIV Coordinator said,
Dr. Sangkula G. Laja toured Gov. Yshmael “Mang” I. Sali, Atty. Shareen S. Ismael, Dr. Alexander U. Ampatuan, Head of Infectious Disease Cluster, Executive Assistant V, Fairuz A. Ibrahim, RN HIV Asst. Coordinator and other provincial officials as he also gave a description of each dedicated room inside the HIV-AIDS Treatment Hub.
Quiogue identified specific groups at heightened risk of HIV transmission, which include “males having sex with males, sexual partners of infected individuals, individuals engaged in prostitution, and heterosexuals with multiple sexual partners, and the youth.”
“The community center is a more holistic approach at providing HIV testing and treatment services,” he said, adding that the initiative will change the concept that treatment is only available in hospitals.
He added that by putting up the center for testing and treating HIV, they are “trying to make it less stigmatizing”.
Quiogue said they want to make sure that persons with HIV “will have a safe space, that they are comfortable and they don’t feel any discrimination” when they avail of services.
The center has its own lounge, activity center, testing, and treatment center. The lounge, which is available for free, has amenities where the target population can drop-by, meet up and do research. The activity center can cater to a bigger population.
As a primary HIV care facility, HACT Clinic offers psychosocial support services through an internal support group for persons living with HIV guided by Physician, Manager, Nurse, Medical Technologist, Social Worker and Pharmacist.
“We call this an alternative service point because this is an option to what is already in place by the LGU (local government unit). Our goal ultimately is to reach those unreachable, the hard to reach population,” he added.