Living with HIV in the Philippines

The official blog of The Project Red Ribbon Care Management Foundation, Inc. (TRR).

  • TRR LOVE FUND

    TRR Love Fund is the arm of the foundation which provides medical assistance to the financially challenged PLHIV.

  • Care assistance for HIV Test

    The Care Assistant Program involves assistance to HIV testing and HIV and AIDS Treatment hubs in the Philippines. Our volunteers schedule the client to the clinic or hub, assist with the procedure in the clinic or hub and conduct peer counseling

  • HOTLINE ASSISTANCE

    With the TRR Hotline Numbers, our volunteers answer concerns and inquiries about HIV and AIDS, do counselling, refers clients to nearest HIV Testing facility, HIV and AIDS Treatment Hub and government and NGO organizations for support

  • PEER COUNSELING

    The foundation volunteers conduct one-on-one counseling either on the phone or in person. They also conduct group counseling

  • SUPPORT GROUP TALK

    The support group talk (SGT) is a program that involves giving HIV lectures by guest speakers, discuss topics about HIV, care, treatment and support, discussion issues related to HIV

  • OUTREACH PROGRAM

    The foundation's outreach program is geared towards providing support to our fellow PLHIV's in the HIV and AIDS Treatment Hubs. Volunteers hand out of donations of medicines and special gifts to PLHIV, give inspirational talks by invited guests to a group of PLHIV, bonding over snacks or meal, visit the sick who are confined in the hospital

  • Referral System

    As part of treatment, the foundation's referral program involves our volunteers referring clients to specialized doctors who are HIV friendly. The foundation has it's own list of specialty doctors of low cost for the indigent PLHIV.

  • Online Support Group

    The foundation has a private Online Support Group in facebook. This group of advocates, supporters, counselors, health Workers and PLHIV

  • Home Health

    Aside from client counselling, the foundation volunteers also do family counselling and home visitation for awareness and continuance of care.

  • Health Fitness

    The foundation believes in holistic approach to treatment and care, thus inclusion of these programs: yoga, dance, swimming, jogging and running, boot camp workouts

  • EVENTS

    As part of awareness and education program, the foundation organizes its own national events to coincide with the international AIDS events: World AIDS Day and International AIDS Candlelight Memorial

Showing posts with label HIV and Drug Addiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HIV and Drug Addiction. Show all posts

Thursday, October 24, 2013

0 comments
Pozziepinoy, , , , , , ,

Drugs and Being HIV Positive



Source: 100 Questions & Answers About HIV and AIDS, 2nd Edition by Joel Gallant, MD, MPH

 HIV positive people often assume that drug use is bad for them because it lowers their CD4 count and increases their viral load, but that's not the reason to stay away from drugs. (I wish we could say that  "good, clean living" would keep HIV under control, but life isn't fair, and the virus doesn't care what you do.) Still, there are plenty of other great reasons to stay away from drugs.

 First, there are the medical dangers of the drugs themselves. Cocaine causes heart attacks and mental illness. Heroine injection can lead to serious infections of the heart valves, bones and joints. Methamphetamine can destroy your teeth, your brain, your relationships, your career and your life. All three are addictive. It's hard to cope up with too many dire warnings about the dangers of marijuana, but even it's advocates admit that regular use can make you dumb and lazy, and there's now some evidence that it could increase the risk of mental illness later in life. There is evidence that Aspergillus, a fungus that can cause dangerous infections in people with very low CD4 counts, can live in marijuana leaves and can be inhaled. (If you smoke dope and have a low CD4 count, some recommend microwaving the joint to kill the fungus. Please don't ask me which setting to use or for how long - those studies will never be done!)

Friday, September 13, 2013

0 comments
Pozziepinoy, , , , , , ,

Talk to Us Now!


I would like to repost this from a secret group in FB posted by Tony Benfield, one of the best HIV counselors here in the country.

“A lot of deaths already, but only a taste of what's coming. One more last night. Yes he was HIV+, but the primary cause of death was drug addiction. We are right on track for a major problem that is now starting to emerge. Ice. Those of you that are familiar with PnP will know that there was no E on the streets for several months early last year. Many tried "ice". When E supplies resumed most stayed with ice. We are now starting to see predictable results.

If you are using ice on a regular basis, you are developing a problem that progresses to addiction. There is NO treatment available for anyone with HIV! You will die. If you want further info, please talk to Pozzie Pinoy or me. We MIGHT be able to connect you to help, but only up to the PRE addiction phase.

Back to the here and now. Addiction. If there is a co-infection with an infectious disease, ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED! The last opportunity for help is PRE addiction. That point where its easier to just have some more, just a little... just to avoid the withdrawal effects.... This is particularly ice where an experienced user knows he can fake getting through the day without being obvious to others. It creeps up on you. Progressive. Self test - if you use ice, can you without discomfort or craving, take a full three week break? If you are regularly using ice and said yes, prove it to yourself. If you decided you will after this weekend then you are in the pre addiction phase. Talk to me or Pozziepinoy!”

(Footnote - Manila, according to DOH, doesn't have a drug problem (despite the obvious) as there is no science based study to support the claim therefore it doesn't exist. And the catch is it would be unethical to conduct a study according to medical ethics. We are attempting to compile a report of sorts (cohort) from data on file in pgh, which might be sufficient to ethically force a study, but its a long way from bearing fruit!)







"WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
NO PLHIV is alone with his or her struggle with HIV!"

-Pozziepinoy-



Want to be ASSISTED for the HIV TEST?? 
Check this link:


If you have comments or questions, please click this link:





© Copyright. All Rights Reserved by Pozziepinoy 2012

Credits: 












Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)