The Palawan Provincial Government has received a Mobile Health and Wellness Services CaraVan from the Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) and the Department of Health (DOH) in a turn-over ceremony at Municipal Covered Court of Barangay Maligaya in El Nido on Monday, February 14.
Under PSFI’s Philippines Response in Optimizing Testing, Empowered Communities, Treatment and Sustainability (PROTECTS) project, the mobile clinic will be used to provide health services to various communities in Palawan with a focus on HIV program services, including distribution of preventative medication against HIV, HIV testing and screening, and antiretroviral therapy refill.
Present during the turnover ceremony are DOH Undersecretary Dr. Nestor F. Santiago, Provincial Health Officer (PHO) Dr. Fayer Erika Labrador, Office of the Governor Executive Assistant IV Ma. Elizabeth Sabando, Infectious Disease Cluster Head Dr. Christy Andaya, Chief of the Local Health Division Dr. Maria Teresa Castillo, Director for Global Fund and TPAP Programs of PSFI Ray Angluben and El Nido Mayor Edna Lim.
“Tawagin na po natin siyang Health and Wellness van dahil hindi na lamang po HIV services ang pwede niya pong dalhin, pwede pong integrated health delivery service iyan dahil iyang van na iyan ay kasangkapan para mapuntahan ‘yung malalayong lugar. Iyan po ay kasangkapan natin for access sa pagbibigay serbisyo. Bukod dito, isa rin ito sa pag-i-encourage natin na lahat po sana ay magpagtest upang malaman ninyo ang inyong estado. Ang pag-test at pag-treat ang isa sa pinakamabisa sa pagkontrol sa pagkalat ng HIV gayundin ang tamang awareness at health education,” said PSFI representative Ray Angluben.
DOH’s Undersecretary Santiago, meanwhile, reminded Palaweños the importance of having themselves tested for HIV to prevent further health problems that it may cause if left untreated.
“Importante ay huwag matakot kasi karamihan lalo na yung mga kabataan ay natatakot na magpa-test, mas maganda ‘yung matest ka at malalaman mo kung ano yung status mo tapos kung halimbawa man na mag positive ka ay magagamot ka kaagad, so early detection pa rin ang importante para magamot dahil alam naman natin na nagagamot ito at may gamot, yun ang kahalagahan na dapat magpatest tayo,” Santiago said.