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

Thursday, January 9, 2014

2 comments
Pozziepinoy, , , , , , ,

Email 455: OFW Needs Help


Hi Pozzie,

I found your blogspot really helpful to me. Thank you so much for creating one. You can call me Dee, I am currently working abroad at kanina lng tinest ako ng friend kong nurse at sabi eh reactive ang results. Last month ko pa kc nararamdaman ang mga symptoms like difficulty breathing, weakness, may rash ako sa mukha na kapag tinigil ko ung Alfacort cream na nireseta ng doctor bumabalik sya. Poz natatakot ako kc sa bansa na pinagtatrabahuan ko deport agad pg nalaman sa test na positive. Wala pa dn akong masyadong ipon kaya namomroblema ako sa treatment. Ask ko lng, covered ba ng philhealth ang pagpapagamot? I am planning to resign from work by the end of this month para by March mkakauwi na ko, masyado na bang matagal un for me to do the treatments. Gusto ko kc muna kahit papano may maiuwi mn lng na pera. I am from Bacolod at nakita ko na may treatment hub sila dun. I really need your advice.. Thank you in advance.
0 comments
Pozziepinoy, , , , , , ,

Email 454: ARV's in Pharmacies?

I Just want to know if we can buy our meds here in the Philippines. my meds are LAMIZIDO and EFAV... Thanks.

POZZIEPINOY’S RESPONSE

Hi there.

Thank you for your email.

All ARV's, including yours, are not for sale in local pharmacies in the Philippines. Only the HIV/AIDS Treatment hubs can dispense the ARV's as they are grants to the Philippines by the Global Fund. If you want to buy them, you can purchase them outside the country but trust me they are EXPENSIVE. One month supply will cost you up to $2,000.

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


Stay healthy,
Pozziepinoy

0 comments
Pozziepinoy, , , , , , ,

Email 453: HIV Test at 22 Weeks

Hi pozziepinoy! 

I just want to ask a few question. Is a 22 week nonreactive result already conclusive? My partner that time was tested nonreactive 10 weeks and 22 weeks post exposure. Granting that he has no sexual activity after the last one, would he need to take a retest after 6 months? Im worried since i was hospitalized 1st week of november due to typhoid fever and i have colds right now. I have no sexual activity also since then and no other sexual partner. We separate ways but still in touch whenever one of us is not feeling well. I was also tested non-reactive 12 weeks post exposure. Do we need to take a retest after 6 months considering that we are both tested nonreactive 10 ,12 & 22 weeks post exposure? Or it is already conclusive? Ours only happened once, there was a penetration but he did not come inside.pls help. 

Thank you so much. 

May the Good Lord continue to bless you and the rest.

Blacksheep 
1 comment
Pozziepinoy, , , , , , , ,

My HIV Test Experience

hi i'm a 24 y/o female. a few days back i went to RITM to get tested. the experience was good. when i got there i didn't feel nervous at all except of course before opening the envelop to see the result.

nung una naisip ko that it's so embarrassing for a female to get tested dahil mostly guys, bisexual, and homosexual ang mga nagpapatest. pero na realize ko na hindi nakahiya kundi magiging responsable ang gagawin ko.

kaya para po sa mga babae na kinakabahan at gusto magpa test, ang masasabi ko lng. hindi nakakatakot at nakakahiya na alam mo ang status mo. be responsible sa sarili mo at sa naging, magiging partners mo :) yes to PREVENTION/early management
0 comments
Pozziepinoy, , , , , , ,

Email 452: My Story and HIV Test

hi Sir Pozzie

im Em nga pala, share ko lang yung experience ko,,, kasi ako ngayon ay nangangambang baka infected na din ng virus. 2mons ago in relationship ako at ang sexual contact namin ay nangyayare weekly kapag pumupunta akong manila para lang makasama sya we do anal and oral sex.. nung una safe sex kami pero nung kalaunan di na kami gumamit ng condom kasi madalas wala kaming dala.. malaki naman tiwala namin sa isat isa na safe kami.. pero 1month before bago maging kami kumuha ako ng HIV test para makasigurado na safe ako sa virus bago ma involve sa relationship kasi nag aalala ako sa nagiging partner ko. (tulad kasi ng iba nakaranas din ako ng mga symtoms ng hiv tulad ng rashes at fatigue na gawa lang siguro ng stress ko at stigma ko sa virus.. naparanoid kasi ako nun gawa ng mga sunod sunod na balita tungkol sa HIV/AIDS) . and the result is NEGATIVE... kaht na negative ang result nangangamba pa rin ako kasi under ako ng window period nun... 4mons before kasi ang last sexual contact ko bago ang test.

4 comments
Pozziepinoy, , , , , , , ,

Email 451: Need Someone to Talk To

Hi Sir! Good day!

Actually hindi ko alam kung paano ko uumpisahan. I just found out I have HIV last Tuesday, January 7. I honestly don't know what to do. I think I need help.

Up to now, I'm still shocked. Sabi nga nila, acceptance won't come easily, pero I am determined to accept it because I know that it is already a part of me, something I can't just imagine to go away. I haven't told anyone yet, not until I have my first check up with an ID doctor of choice. There are a lot of questions na sobrang tumatakbo sa isip ko, and I don't know if kailangan ko sabihin sa iba na I am positive. Natatakot ako. Natatakot ako na layuan ako ng ibang tao, natatakot ako na baka hindi ako matanggap ng pamilya ko. Ang hirap pala. I'm trying to continue living my life as if the virus doesn't exist.

Sorry to bother you with this nonsense. I just need someone to talk to regarding this. Thank you for your time sir. God bless!

GM

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

9 comments
Pozziepinoy, , , , , , , ,

My HIV Test Experience

Hi pozzie, gerald and yomi ... 

I just want to share my experience with your followers in your blog. 

Sometime in May (last year2013) I was treated with this big bug Herpes2..next outbreak was Nov..I got this from another man and I was so sorry that I cheated on my husband. Long time before I discover this I was already in my right mind to end up the affair and thank God that I was able to do the right thing, not just for my family but for myself.  It was a short affair, Jan to March affair only. I regret the whole thing, I can't even forgive myself bec. I know that I can no longer nake my husband happy when it comes to sex.  

0 comments
Pozziepinoy, , , , ,

Email 450: Not Sure


The guy tested negative so did I obviously but I suffered a hoorinle flu three weeks after he told me he has some new strain.of HIV last year I got oral thrush so in four years I plan on doing a cd4 count what would it be like if I were infected? I just want to know if he lied to me? I'm trying to stay calm but my body is stressed 
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