I received another email. Here it goes.
"Hi,
I would like to inquire where to avail the BEST health care service for people living with HIV, of course I want it to be private and confidential to prevent discrimination and horror experience. I'm afraid I already have the virus but still crossing my fingers to have a negative result. What are the things I have to prepare? with regards to financial obligations how much should I prepare for the preliminary laboratory examinations? if my CD4 count is below 300 can I avail the free ARV meds? Mind to share me their contact numbers?
Just bump on your blog site this morning and realized why wait if I can have myself tested before it's too late.
Regards,
XXX"
Pozziepinoy’s Reply:
Hi.
I salute you for being proactive about your health status. You are absolutely right. Why ait when you can have yourself tested now to know your status. Why wait, like me, who was stupid to ignore the fact that I was having unprotected sex and not even thought of having myself tested. Trust me. You are doing the right thing. Do it now.
Let’s answer your questions one by one.
1. On where to avail of the best health care service for people living with HIV where there is privacy and confidentiality to prevent discrimination and “horror” experience, I believe that all the government hubs provide the best health care service.
I was once a patient of a private doctor in a private hospital and I wasn’t given the best advice there. Later on, I was referred to a government hub, because they have more experience in dealing with HIV/AIDS patients, with opportunistic infections and ARV’s. Don’t worry, the hubs will protect your identity and you will feel the concern of the staff there for you.
2. What are the things to prepare for? Just yourself. Brace yourself. Be prepared emotionally and physically. Knowledge is power so study and learn. Read all about HIV/AIDS. Learn also from the experiences of others who have been living with the disease.
3. How much should one prepare for the preliminary laboratory examinations? Most hubs would require you to have blood workout done which usually will cost more or less P4,000. They would also require you to have the CD4 count test which range from P2,500 to P4,000 in the government hubs. You can also prepare for the cost of the initial viral load count which is around P6,000 to P7,500.
4. If the CD4 is below 300 can one avail of the free ARV’s? Absolutely as long as you accomplish the required tests and the counseling provided by the hubs.
5. Contact numbers of the HIV/AIDS Hubs:
a. Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITRMC)
San Fernando, La Union
Dr. Jeisela B. Gaerlan
Medical Specialist II/HACT Leader
Clinic: (072) 700-3808
b. Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC)
Baguio City
Dr. Maria Lorena L. Santos
HACT Leader / Medical Officer II
c. 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
d. Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM)
Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Dr. Rossana A. Ditangco, Head, HIV Research Unit
Tel: 5261705; 8072628/38 local 801/208
e. Philippine General Hospital (PGH)
Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila
Dr. Jodor Lim / Ms. Dominga C. Gomez
HACT, SAGIP/ PGH
Telefax: 5261705
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/inquire at:
Nearest Social Hygiene Clinics (Special STI Clinics); City/Municipal Health Offices NGO Partners at the local level
I hope I was able to answer your questions. Feel free to email me again.
Stay strong,
Pozziepinoy
FOR TOPIC SUGGESTIONS, please email me at pozziepinoy@yahoo.com
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