Review of HIV & AIDS prevention, control proposed ordinance sought

THE City Council committee on health, nutrition, and health insurance chaired by Councilor Paolo Nicolo Gaane requested the City Legal Office to review some provisions of the proposed ordinance providing for the Cagayan de Oro comprehensive sexually transmitted infections (STI), HIV, and AIDS prevention and control program.

One of the key points raised during the meeting was the provision on funding under the proposed HIV/AIDS ordinance, which initially sought to allocate at least ₱3 million annually for its implementation.

However, Atty. Rachel Aguhob, Officer in Charge of the City Budget Office, noted that the city’s comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention and care services program already has an estimated funding of around ₱54 million across different departments and offices.

The City Health Office (CHO), for example, has its own interventions regarding care services.

The Community Improvement Division (CID) also conducts responsible parenting information drive to orient the youth regarding HIV.

The social services sector also have financial assistance to barangays, most especially through the barangay health centers and nutrition scholars to advocate for HIV awareness.

Atty Aguhob warns against setting an amount in the proposed ordinance to avoid redundancy.

PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS (PrEP)

Dr. Wellaflor Brito of the Department of Health (DOH-10) explained that the Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a medication taken daily by individuals at high risk of HIV infection.

It is provided by the national government and supported by donations from global funding partners.

Dr. Brito said the DOH is advocating for early diagnosis and PrEP to at least slow down the alarming rise of new infections.

“The goal of the program is to have zero “new” HIV—not zero HIV,” she stressed.

Meanwhile, Councilor Imee Rose P. Moreno asked for a comparison between the existing Cagayan de Oro City STD/AIDS Prevention and Control Ordinance of 2006 with the one newly proposed.

Dr. Dilla clarified that the current ordinance does not include provisions for the PrEP medication, but under the proposed measure, it may soon be made available to the public.

After thorough deliberation, the City Legal Office requested the committee for the resource persons and concerned agencies to incorporate their comments before it will be submitted to their office for further review.

Councilors George Christopher Goking, Yan Lam S. Lim, Moreno Y. Daba IV, Imee Rose P. Moreno, Yvy Emano, Aga Suan and former city councilor Dr. Malou Gaane, were present during the meeting. (JBD/SP)