A health officer here confirmed, the first case of “human immunodeficiency virus-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome” (HIV-AIDS) in the province after a 23-year old girl was found positive of the dreaded disease.
Dr. Godofredo Rilloraza, HIV-AIDS coordinator, told The STAR that the girl is a commercial sex worker from southern Luzon who worked in the “red light districts” in the province.
“There is one sex worker that we diagnosed while we are conducting blood screening for syphilis and HIV last year. She turned out to be positive of HIV,” Rilloraza said.
Rilloraza said that succeeding laboratory examinations here and in Manila further confirmed their initial findings on the condition of the patient.
He said they were able to trace the girl’s disease during the massive blood screening for guest relations officers (GRO’s) working in various bars and disco houses in the province as part of the activities for HIV-AIDS awareness campaign.
Rilloraza said the girl was already referred to the HIV-AIDS core team at the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center for intensive counseling and medical support.
He said San Fernando remained one of the vulnerable areas for HIV-AIDS and “sexually transmitted disease” (STD) in the Ilocos region along with the cities of Dagupan, Laoag and Urdaneta. These areas are prone to the disease because of the presence of “red light districts,” and a frequented destination by foreign tourists,”
Rilloraza added that the World Health Organization has chosen San Fernando as one of the pilot areas for HIV-AIDS awareness and for “condom use program.”
He said the city health office here has been conducting regular blood screening for GRO’s and on December 1, during the opening of the HIV-AIDS Awareness Month this year, two hundred fifty GRO’s and gays from all over the province joined the test.
A mass for GRO’s was scheduled yesterday at the St. William Cathedral while a series of lectures and symposium will be held in various areas. |
