Living with HIV in the Philippines: Email 407: OFW Concerns About HIV Test/Treatment

hi po..ako po si XXX..last Dec.2012 nalaman ko po na hiv + po ako pagkatapos ng medical for renueing visa sa bansang Malaysia..last feb.2013 umuwi po ako pinas..pero ntakot po ako na malaman ng pamilya ko..XXX po location ko..

ano po ba ang mga hakbang na ggawin ko para sa situation ko..meron po ba tayong free hiv test and hiv treatment?sana

mbigyan mo po ako ng advise

TRANSLATION

Hi. I am XXX. Last December 2012, I learned that I am HIV positive after my medical test for my VISA renewal in Malaysia. I came home last Feb 2013 but I am scared that my family will learn about it. I live in XXX.

What are the steps that I need to take. Do we have free HIV test and HIV treatment? I hope you can give me advice.

POZZIEPINOY’S RESPONSE

Hi.

Thank you for your email.

I have received and answered a lot of emails or phone calls with the same dilemma. Usually, OFW's find out that they are HIV positive after their medical test for VISA renewal. In the middle east and Singapore, some OFW's get accosted and were deported back to the Philippines as their governments won't allow foreign nationals with HIV working in their countries. Most of the OFW's, just come home as soon as they suspect that the health ministry or department in the country they are working for suspects that they have HIV in order to avoid deportation and then the dilemma of facing their families and friends here.

Now let me address your concerns in the order that you asked them.

First, there are HIV testing centers that provide HIV Test for free. You can go to:

1. RTM Satellite Clinic in Malate
2. KLINIKA BERNARDO
EDSA Across NEPA Q-Mart, Cubao, Quezon City
(at the back of Ramon Magsaysay High School)
Contact #0910.653.5522 (John)
Monday to Friday 8:00am to 11:00pm
every 2nd & 4th Sunday of the Month 2:00pm to 7:00pm
3. You can contact The Love Yourself for their Free Testing/Mass HIV Testing Programs

If you want to go to a clinic or hospital, the HIV test is not that expensive. In government hospitals, usually the fee is around P500 and in private hospitals, the HIv test is around P1,500. Please check out these centres:

HIV Testing Centers

Second, HIV treatment is FREE in all the HIV Treatment Hubs in the country. All you need to do is present the confirmatory HIV test result coming from any HIV Testing site in the Philippines. Check out the HIV hub nearest you:

HIV/AIDS Treatment Hubs

I hope I was able to answer your concerns. Feel free to email me again if you have other questions.

Stay healthy,

Pozziepinoy