Next Steps?

So what’s next? You just found out that you are HIV positive. If you are hospitalized because of an ailment and an HIV test was requested and it turned out positive, I’m pretty sure that your doctors will provide you with all the steps that you need to take. But what if you just voluntarily took the test and it turned out positive? What is the next step for you then?

Here is a list of the things you need to do first:

1. Look for an HIV/AIDS treatment hub. A “hub” is a term used to denote a treatment clinic in the hospital only for HIV/AIDS cases. There are 3 main government and PhilHealth affiliated hubs in Metro Manila. Outside Manila, there also hubs but treatment facilities maybe insufficient. There are also private hubs but treatment maybe expensive and there is a handling fee per bottle of ARV's. They are in Makati Medical Center and The Medical City.

Once you are in the hub, the treatment team will tell you what to do next. Make sure to bring your confirmatory HIV result and any previous medical history. Don't be scared because the personnel there are all professional and they all understand your situation.

Here is a list of the treatment hubs:

    

    a. San Lazaro Hospital (SLH)

      Quiricada St., Sta. Cruz, Manila

      Dr. Rosario Jessica Tactacan-Abrenica

      Medical Specialist II/HACT Leader

      Head, HIV/AIDS Pavilion

      Tel: 309-9529/28; 740-8301 loc 6000

  b. Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM)- ARG (AIDS RESEARCH GROUP)

      Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City

      Dr. Rossana A. Ditangco, Head, HIV Research Unit

      Tel: 5261705; 8072628/38 local 801/208

  c.  Philippine General Hospital (PGH)- S.A.G.I.P

      Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila

      Dr. Jodor Lim / Ms. Dominga C. Gomez

      HACT, SAGIP/ PGH

      Telefax: 5261705

  d. Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITRMC)

      San Fernando, La Union

      Dr. Jeisela B. Gaerlan

      Medical Specialist II/HACT Leader

      Clinic: (072) 700-3808

  e. Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC)

      Baguio City 

      Dr. Maria Lorena L. Santos

      HACT Leader / Medical Officer II

  f.  Bicol Regional Training & Teaching Hospital 

      Legaspi City, Albay

      Dr. Rogelio G. Rivera

      Chief of Hospital III

      Tel: (052) 483-0016 / 483-0086 / 483-0017

g. Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC)

    Q. Abeto St., Mandurriao, 5000 Iloilo City

    Dr. Ray Celis

    HACT Leader/Medical Specialist III

    Tel: (033) 321-2841 to 50

h. Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hosp

    Lacson St., Bacolod City, Negros Occidental

    Dr. Candido Alam

    HACT Leader/Medical Specialist

    Tel: (034) 435-1591; (034) 433-2697

i.  Vicente Sotto, Sr. Memorial Medical Center (VSSMC)

    B. Rodriguez St., Cebu City 6000

    Dr. Maria Consuelo B. Malaga, 

    HACT Leader

    Tel: (032) 253-7564; (032) 253-7564 / 9882

j.  Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC)

    Evangelista St., 7000 Zamboanga City

    Dr. Jejunee Rivera

    HACT Leader/Medical Officer III

    Tel: (062) 991-0573

k. Davao Medical Center (DMC)

    J.P. Laurel St., Bajada, 8000 Davao City

    Dr. Alicia Layug, HACT Leader

    Tel: (081) 227-2731

l.  Cagayan Valley Medical Center

    Tuguegarao City, Cagayn Valley

m. Jose B. Lingad Memorial Medical Center

     San Fernando, Pampanga 

n. Or visit or inquire at:

    Any nearest Social Hygiene Clinics (Special STI Clinics); City/Municipal Health Offices NGO Partners at the local level 

2. Find an infectious disease (ID) specialist. Usually the hubs have them but if you opt to have your own private doctor, you can have find one in any hospital.

3. Talk to somebody. Talk to a HIV/AIDS counsellor or even to a psychologist to help you deal with the disease. You can also talk to friends and family members for you to vent out you inner feelings.

4. Check your PhilHealth status if you are still paying for it. PhilHealth is beneficial to persons with HIV/AIDS because of OHAT (Out Patient HIV/AIDS Treatment Package). Under it, all medicines and lab procedures are free in the hubs. Read  my previous entry about it: If you are not a member yet, make sure that you pay your contributions asap. PhilHealth is so important to HIV/Aids people because by the year 2013, all ARV’s will be under PhilHealth unlike now that they are still under the Global Fund.

5. Start reading articles about HIV/AIDS in the Philippines. Start reading blogs and personal accounts. It is best that you are knowledgeable about what you are about to experience. This helps also in lessening the stress.

FOR TOPIC SUGGESTIONS, please email me at pozziepinoy@yahoo.com

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