
MANILA, Philippines - More treatment centers for HIV and
AIDS will be set up nationwide to give the growing number of patients
free anti-retroviral therapy (ART).
However, Lyndon Lee Suy, Department of Health (DOH)
spokesman, said the existing 19 treatment centers nationwide are sufficient
since only few HIV/AIDS patients are availing of free ART.
Since 1984, the country has already recorded a total
of 20,424 HIV cases nationwide, including 1,052 deaths.
“If we see an increase in the number of HIV cases in a
certain area and there is only one treatment hub there, we will not hesitate to
give them additional access to ART,” he said.
The current ART treatment hubs are in Ilocos Training and
Regional Medical Center, Cagayan Valley Medical Center, Baguio General Hospital
and Medical Center, Jose B. Lingad Medical Center, James Gordon Memorial
Hospital, Makati Medical Center, Philippine General Hospital, Research
Institute for Tropical Medicine, San Lazaro Hospital and the Medical City.
ART treatment centers are also in Bicol Regional Training
and Teaching Hospital, Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital,
Western Visayas Medical Center, Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital,
Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Zamboanga City Medical Center, Southern
Philippines Medical Center, Northern Mindanao Medical Center, and Eastern
Visayas Regional Medical Center.
Source: www.philstar.com
No comments:
Post a Comment