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

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

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Pozziepinoy, , , , ,

Email 631: How To Know if One Has HIV?


papano po malalaman na may hiv ang isang tao ang isa pa wala po ako pera pang check up sana matulungan nyo po ako

TRANSLATION

 How would a person know if he or she has HIV. One more thing, I don't have money for a check up. Please help me.

Monday, September 23, 2013

3 comments
Pozziepinoy, , , , , , ,

Email 630: CD4 Test Result in PGH-SAGIP

Hi Sir,

Good Day!

We are one of your blogs avid reader. Thank you very much for the very informative blog!
My brother is a HIV+ patient, he had the CD4 Test at Sagip PGH last Aug 28, 2013.
May we know when would be the result be released? if after one month and still not yet released, May we know where can we follow-up it?
Hoping for your soonest reply.

Best Regards,
XXX

2 comments
Pozziepinoy, , , , , , ,

Email 629: Are my HIV Tests Conclusive?


Good day!

pozzie let me tell to you my story. last week of october 2012 i had an unprotected sex with this guy then december 2012 i take my 1st hiv test non reactive naman siya tapos january to february we had sex again but now protected sex lahat. then may 2013 nag take ulit ako ng hiv test and non reactive ulit ang result my question is...

1. conclusive na ba ung hiv test ko?
2. may ilang symptoms ako na naramdaman like chill, sorethroat, backpain  
pero paminsan minsan lang. is it a sign that im hiv positive?
3. yung last protected sex ko is february pero i noticed some blood on my  
anus when i wiped it pero a day after wala na. is it possible that im  
infected now with hiv with regards on that incidence?
4. nag pa test yung partner ko negative nman siya. pwede bang ako magkaroon  
ng hiv tapos siya wala kahit siya lang yung partner ko eversince?
5. panu ba napapasa ang hiv? pwede bang magsimula siya sa katawan ng taong  
walang virus kahit negative yung partner niya?

thanks in advance
cj


3 comments
Pozziepinoy, , , , ,

Email 628: Do I have HIV?


Hi PozziePinoy,

Good day po!

I decided to email you po kasi gulong-gulo na ako. I really need your advice. Para mapadali story, I kwento ko na lng by using timeline.

Dec. 2011 – last unprotected sex with A. A is my first experience. He's a friend and nagawa ko yun kasi minahal ko sya. Pero nalaman ko na he had multiple partners before. So after nun, stop na.

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Pozziepinoy, , , , , ,

RITM Satellite Clinic Closed Today!


ADVISORY

DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER
AND 
FLOODING IN
MANILA AREA

RITM SATELLITE CLINIC
IS CLOSED 
TODAY
SEPTEMBER 23, 2013

Approved for Posting by
Dr. Rossana Ditangco,
Head RITM-ARG/Satellite Clinic




"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: 












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Pozziepinoy, , , , , ,

The Process of HIV Test and HV Treatment

A lot of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) are asking me the entire process of HIV testing here and HIV treatment since they would want to plan their trip home and to finish the entire process before going back to the country where they work.

 A. HIV Test

 1. In the HIV testing center, no need to schedule for an appointment. Just make sure to know the schedules of testing in the HIV testing center of choice.

 Check out these HIV Testing Centers:


2. The Process of HIV Testing:

     a. Filling out of the form. Real name is required.
    b. Pre counselling
    c. Drawing of blood
    d. Waiting for the result: Usually, it will take from 2 hours to one whole day if the result is  
         negative. If the result is positive, no document will be presented but person will be     
         informed that the blood sample is being sent to DOH/ San Lazaro SACCL or RITM for   
         cofirmatory result.
        i. In RITM Satellite Clinic in Malate, the final result comes out in 2 hours (2 tests are 
           done)
        ii. in Manila testing centres, confirmatory result comes out after 2 weeks
        iii. in provincial testing centres, confirmatory result comes out after a month.
    e. Once the result is given, there will be a post counselling

Notes:

    a. There is a window period for HIV antibodies to develop. This is 3 months post exposure.
   b. Early HIV testing (before 3 months) may produce a negative result as HIV and person  
        will be advised to come back 3  months post exposure or 3 months post testing 
        depending on the centre.
   c. However, it is still best to come as early as possible because there are cases that HIV 
       is detected early even in the rapid test. However, for OFW's this would be hard as they 
       will have to return to the country after 3 months again.
   d. Best option for OFW's is to:
       i. get an HIV test in another country nearest where HIV testing is safe to take
       ii. take the HIV test 3 months post exposure here in the country to save money and 
           time.  

 B. HIV Treatment

 1. Go to any HIV Treatment Hubs near your place:


2. Present your confirmatory HIV test result and lab tests (if you have recent ones) to the 
     staff
3. Presription of Baseline Laboratory tests including CD4 test.
4. Waiting for all lab result
5. Consultation with doctor and prescription of HIV medicines (ARV's) if necessary.

Notes:

   a. Usually it takes one or 2 weeks for the lab test results to come out.
   b. Tip for OFW's. One week prior to coming to the Philippines, take all basic lab tests: 
       CBC, Chest Xray, TB test, cholesterol levels, liver function tests in the country where 
       you work to save time. Bring the result and present to the HIV test when you are in the    
       hub. Only recent results (taken less than 2 weeks, will be accepted). The other tests 
       which are HIv related (CD4 and/or Viral Load test can be done here.
   c. CD4 count result usually takes time.
       i. In private hospitals in Manila, its is expensive but comes out within a week.
      ii. In government hubs, it comes out in a week
      iii. In RITM-ARG in Alabang, it comes out in just 3 hours
           -FREE if it is the hub where you enrol your documents
           -with a fee if you are enrolled in a different hub
   d. In the Philippines, ARV's are only given with CD4 350 and below. For OFW's, you can 
       arrange with the hubs on how they can send the medicines to you in your country.

C. Summary of the HIV Treatment Process









"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: 











0 comments
Pozziepinoy, , , , ,

Email 627: HIv Negative and Experiencing Symptoms


Hi. 

Syensya na po pwede po ba humingi ng favor kasi worried ako negative naman tests ko pero nakaka experiens ng ulcers sa roof ng mouth at sa loob ng cheeks. Characterstic daw ng hiv yun sabi sa nabasa ko. At minsan may mga muscle movements ako sa arms and legs. Pwede po ba pakitanong ke dr. Ditangco kung symptoms kaya ito? Nakaexperiens din kasi ko ng flu and diarrhea pero 6 months after nun eh negative ako sa test. Thank u po.

worried me
0 comments
Pozziepinoy, , , , , , , ,

Email 626: HIV Symptoms and HIV Test


Ask ko lang po ganu po ba katagal before po magkaron ng symptoms after po makipag sex ng unprotected? please help me po natatakot po ako at ayaw ko po magkaroon ng ganung sakit . location ko po is marikina po meron po bang free hiv test malapit po sa location ko?

TRANSLATION

I would like to ask how long will one experience the symptoms after having unprotected sex? Please help me as I don’t want to have that disease. My location is Marikina and is there a free HIV test near my place?
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