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 Pinoy HIV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pinoy HIV. Show all posts

Saturday, September 15, 2018

0 comments
Pozziepinoy, , , , , , , ,

Life is Meant to be Lived!


Hi pozziepinoy, 

I've been reading your blog about HIV for the past few weeks, and I really want to share with you what I'm experiencing since I was diagnosed with HIV four years ago, but there's been something that pulling me back. Now I gathered all the strengths and courage to tell you my story.  

May 14 2014, the most unforgettable day of my life and maybe the most unfortunate news I ever had received. Confirmatory test results says "REACTIVE" in a plain bold text. Cd4 count at 590.  Honestly I expected it,  I know that there's been something wrong with me even before I decided to know my status.  It took days before things finally sink in my mind; and I asked myself "am I going to die?" I hope not I was young back then.  I'm just 24 that time and there are still a lot of opportunities on my way.  My career was just starting to bloom,  I just recently promoted and I'm  seeing a clear path for my career. So, I decided to set aside the thoughts of having the virus and live life like nothing happened. I know, it is a very unwise and a lame decision. 

September 2017, I was hospitalized because of difficulty in breathing and a high grade fever. Doctors try to figure out what's going on it can be TB or Pneumonia, blood test and X-ray are requested but results shows negative. So,  I decided to visit RITM ARG Clinic and ask for assistance. They ask for my confirmatory results and I was subject to counseling,  I had some  test X-ray, sputum, blood test etc.  Eventually, I had my first ARV after 3 years of being diagnosed. Then,  days, weeks,  months had passed. Still denying the fact that I am poz same old routine,  same old lifestyle, to the point that I am already missing a dose of my ARV. After six months of my first ARV treatment, as usual laboratory test are requested test results shows CD4 at 108 and Vl 300,000 copies per millimeter.  Clearly, my ARVs aren't working.  Why?? Simple! because of me there's no one to be blamed but me.  

Currently, Im on the second line arv my CD4 is at 33, and based on what I read I'm considered as stage 4 AIDS. Luckily I never had any other diseases but for how long? I'm still on denial. I refuse to take my ARV and honestly I'm  just waiting for my death to come. The truth is I need help I need support but how can somebody help me if even me can't help myself. No one can help me. I want to start again, to start from scratch but it's too late.  I am sad, I am depressed, I want to quit, I want to just take a rest forever to the point that I'm praying for my own death. I'm tired I honestly am.  

It feels good venting out the pain and suffering surrounding my soul.  I just hope that I  am the last person who is experiencing this dilemma and I hope one day I will be enlightened. 


Thank you for reading my email.  

Many thanks, 
XXX

POZZIEPINOY’S RESPONSE

Hi Jay,

We are here to help you. I would like to meet you personally so that we can talk. I would like to introduce you to our support group which we conduct every week in our Ortigas office. I want you to meet people, who are now productive in their lives, who despite of having HIV rebounded back and now enjoying life.

I just want you to know that it is NEVER too late. Life is meant to be lived, not to be given up. You can once again rebound back and fight for your life, your family and your lifelong dreams. Sometimes, we think too much that we feel we are alone in this fight, when in fact there are a lot of people, people you just don't know, who are willing to fight with you.

I hope you don't mind, but I am also linking you with Dr. Rossana Ditangco. She is the best doctor you'll ever have who can also talk to you and help you with your medical management. 

Jay, together we can work on this. Just don't lose hope. Let's meet. Let's talk. Then I want you to correspond with Dra. Ditangco too. This will be a team effort, just for you, all for you. 

Hope to hear for you soon. 

POZZIEPINOY



Need assistance?
Want to take the FREE HIV Screening?
Want to talk to someone?
Looking for a support group?
Want to volunteer?

TRR HIV Hotline Numbers 


02-656-7297
0917-908-1546
                    

TRR CARE OFFICE

OPEN DAILY

Address:
Unit 401 Lumiere Suites
#21 General Capinpin St.
Barangay San Antonio,
Ortigas Center, Pasig

"Spreading Compassion"

-Project Red Ribbon-



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




0 comments
Pozziepinoy, , , , , , , ,

National Youth Commission Commits to HIV Program for the Youth

The National Youth Commission during the Committee on Health meeting held last September 13, 2018 under the new leadership of Commissioner Victor del Rosario reiterated their support for the national HIV program under the NYC - HIV and AIDS Prevention Program for the Youth (HAPPY). This is an undertaking in partnership with Project red Ribbon as its implementing partner for a national HIV training on HIV awareness and HIV Screening. Under this program, there will be a training for the youth leaders to roll out the HIV Program to the youth organizations all over the country.

 The need for the youth organizations to step up in helping the national HIV program is imperative. The cases of HIV in the country among the youth continuously rise every month. With the weak educational platform on HIV in schools and universities, the NGO's need to aggressively come together especially those focused on the youth should start coming together and strategies on how to arrest the growing epidemic. 

 With NYC stepping up and addressing the issue among the youth, with Project Red Ribbon as its partner, we do hope that we can create ripples of impact not only on education but also strengthen the program on the promotion of early HIV testing as a means of prevention of the spread of HIV. 


Need assistance?
Want to take the FREE HIV Screening?
Want to talk to someone?
Looking for a support group?
Want to volunteer?

TRR HIV Hotline Numbers 


02-656-7297
0917-908-1546
                    

TRR CARE OFFICE

OPEN DAILY

Address:
Unit 401 Lumiere Suites
#21 General Capinpin St.
Barangay San Antonio,
Ortigas Center, Pasig

"Spreading Compassion"

-Project Red Ribbon-



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




Monday, September 10, 2018

0 comments
Pozziepinoy, , , , , , , ,

Another Child Needing Support

A doctor of one of the biggest hubs in the Philippines just messaged me and asked for support for a 6 year old who was just admitted today. The doctor asked if Project Red Ribbon can visit and check on the kid.

 This is what we do. Immediately, I called our Care Manager to assess the situation of the child. He will visit tonight. 

 "We act FAST when we CARE" is the tagline of Project Red Ribbon. However, there were times that even though we act fast, FAST is still not enough. Sometimes we have to do more.. most of the time, it has to be before things happen. 

 That is the reason we also focus on education and prevention. We need to arrest behaviours before HIV is transmitted. It is harder when somebody is late diagnosed because everything becomes taxing.. medical, financial, emotional. 

 Yesterday, a child died because of AIDS. Today, we have another newly admitted child. We have to move fast.




Need assistance?
Want to take the FREE HIV Screening?
Want to talk to someone?
Looking for a support group?
Want to volunteer?

TRR HIV Hotline Numbers 


02-656-7297
0917-908-1546
                    

TRR CARE OFFICE

OPEN DAILY

Address:
Unit 401 Lumiere Suites
#21 General Capinpin St.
Barangay San Antonio,
Ortigas Center, Pasig

"Spreading Compassion"

-Project Red Ribbon-



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




0 comments
Pozziepinoy, , , , , , , ,

Is the HIV Test Free?

I just received two emails asking if the HIV Test is free. If not how much does it cost?

 Well, in all government hospitals, treatment hubs and testing facilities including the social hygiene clinics, the HIV Test is free. There is a pre- and post- test counselling and a form to be filled out. In private hospitals and privately owned laboratory test facilities, the HIV test is not free. The tests may cost from P500 to P1,500 depending on the facility. However, the process is still the same.


The HIV test result if negative comes out the following day. If the result is reactive, the facility will ask the client to come back for the result after 2 weeks. During this time, the blood sample is sent to SACCL in DOH for the confirmatory test, to accurately diagnose HIV.

 Nowadays, there is the HIV Screening. The HIV Screening is a simple pin prick as compared with the blood extraction for the HIV Test. The HIV test kits used in HIV screening comes from DOH and trained motivators for ambassadors can give on the HIV screening test outside any clinic or facility. Project Red Ribbon is doing this in the office, or during one-on-one meet ups. In our activities and events, we conduct it in companies, schools, organisation activities, in parks, etc. The protocol is if the test result turned out to be reactive, the client is assisted to take the HIV test in the facility. The test kits being used are very accurate.


So what are you waiting for? Take the HIV test or HIV screening now. For HIV screening, you may contact our information details below.




Need assistance?
Want to take the FREE HIV Screening?
Want to talk to someone?
Looking for a support group?
Want to volunteer?

TRR HIV Hotline Numbers 


02-656-7297
0917-908-1546
                    

TRR CARE OFFICE

OPEN DAILY

Address:
Unit 401 Lumiere Suites
#21 General Capinpin St.
Barangay San Antonio,
Ortigas Center, Pasig

"Spreading Compassion"

-Project Red Ribbon-



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




0 comments
Pozziepinoy, , , , , , , ,

Returning OFW's, Encouraged to take the HIV Test

This came out in today's Manila Bulletin. 

A good encouragement and should be a strong encouragement not only to OFW's but to all so that we can finally know the extent of the HIV epidemic in the country. 

This only shows that the trend is really changing. Though the cases are still high among men having sex with men (MSM), HIV now can affect anybody.

I really hope that this won't be misinterpreted, once again, by some people as typecasting and stigmatising. It is very clear that it is just an encouragement to have a voluntary HIV test if you know you have experienced a high risk behaviour.




Need assistance?
Want to take the FREE HIV Screening?
Want to talk to someone?
Looking for a support group?
Want to volunteer?

TRR HIV Hotline Numbers 


02-656-7297
0917-908-1546
                    

TRR CARE OFFICE

OPEN DAILY

Address:
Unit 401 Lumiere Suites
#21 General Capinpin St.
Barangay San Antonio,
Ortigas Center, Pasig

"Spreading Compassion"

-Project Red Ribbon-



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




0 comments
Pozziepinoy, , , , , , , ,

PhilHealth Issues?


Do you know that Treatment Hubs can not tell you that you can't have a refill of ARV's without any PhilHealth contribution?

 Do you know that hubs should give you FREE laboratory tests including CD4 test and VL test as long as they are prescribed by your hub doctor as they can be reimbursed by hubs from PhilHealth?

 I just talked to PhilHealth MDG-OHAT Team and I told them that clients coming from different hubs can now email Project Red Ribbon at contact@projectredribbon.org for any PhilHealth complaints especially if services are not being given to them when in fact it should be covered by OHAT Package of PhilHealth. The point here is once a hub becomes accredited by PhilHealth, clients who are PhilHealth members either because they are currently employed or are voluntary members, should get the hub services for free, since hubs will claim reimbursements after 3 months from PhilHealth. If they don't have the laboratory equipments yet since they are either new or are primary treatment facilities only, they need to tie up with hubs or laboratory testing facilities which they will have to pay after 3 months once they get their quarterly reimbursements from PhilHealth. By doing this, ALL clients, either new or currently enrolled will get the FREE benefits from the OHAT. If in case, the client is unemployed or indigent, the hub should refer them to DSWD, LGU, or even PhilHealth so that they can get the financial assistance needed to pay for their PhilHealth membership.

 What to email us?

 1. Complaint
2. Hub in question, including full address
3. Full name (this will be confidential and will not even reach PhilHealth or the Hub)

 All letters will be forwarded to the PhilHealth MDG-OHAT Team for evaluation.


Need assistance?
Want to take the FREE HIV Screening?
Want to talk to someone?
Looking for a support group?
Want to volunteer?

TRR HIV Hotline Numbers 


02-656-7297
0917-908-1546
                    

TRR CARE OFFICE

OPEN DAILY

Address:
Unit 401 Lumiere Suites
#21 General Capinpin St.
Barangay San Antonio,
Ortigas Center, Pasig

"Spreading Compassion"

-Project Red Ribbon-



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




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