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.
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