The Dumaguete City Health Office celebrated the 29th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial on Sunday, May 20 at 5 pm at Quezon Park.
Dr. Maria Sarah Talla, City Health officer, said the candle lightning is an annual activity to commemorate the lives of people who died of Acquired Immunity-Deficiency Syndrome. It is also in support of those who suffer from the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus, and an awakening for the communities to move against HIV and AIDS.
This year’s celebration theme is “Promoting Health and Dignity Together.” The theme is a people-centered and a human-based approach which seeks to promote awareness on HIV, and to encourage respect for the human rights of people living with HIV, according to Dr. Talla.
The participants expected in the activity are members of the Stakeholders Committee/HIV, the Department of Social Welfare & Development, SEAK and Kalipi, the City Population Office; MARPA; the youth, the Department of Education, Holy Child Hospital, the Silliman University Medical Center, the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital, and the City HIV/AIDS Council.
Boel Espinas, DOH-7 site implementation coordinator of the STI/HIV/AIDS Program was invited to update Dumagueteños on the HIV/AIDS situation. Jessica McGhie, Peace Corps Response Volunteer, will give the rationale on the activity.
Dr. Talla said the CHO does not have any recorded AIDS cases, but urged the public to report to her office those who have any symptoms of HIV AIDS.
She also encouraged stakeholders, government officials, barangay officials, health workers to participate in the activity.
Meanwhile, Dr. Talla shared the method of prevention and control against HIV/AIDS: A — Abstain (from unprotected sex practices); B — Be faithful; C — Condom use; D — Don’t use drugs; E — Education
Anyone can acquire the HIV by receiving infected blood and blood products in transfusions, sharing injecting equipment, during pregnancy, delivery or breastfeeding, and unprotected penetrative sexual intercourse, Talla warned.
She stressed the importance of having only one sex partner, and engaging only in non-penetrative sex practices like hugging, kissing, massaging. (PIO)
