Dumaguete City sets to mark International AIDS Candlelight Memorial

Friday 18th of May 2012

DUMAGUETE CITY, May 18 (PIA) -- Dumaguete City is set to commemorate the 29th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial (IACM) activity this Sunday, May 27 with candle lighting at 5:00 p.m. at the Quezon Park.

City Health Officer Dr. Maria Sarah Talla said the candle lighting is an annual activity spearheaded by the City Health Office to commemorate the lost lives of those people who died of AIDS.

It is also a support of those individuals who suffer from HIV, and an awakening for the communities to move against HIV and AIDS, she added.

This year’s celebration theme is “Promoting Health and Dignity Together.”

According to Talla, the theme is a people-centered and a human-based approach which is why it seeks to promote awareness on HIV and to promote respect for the human rights of people living with HIV.

Expected to participate in the candle lighting are members of the stakeholders committee on HIV, Department of Social Welfare and Development in the city, SEAK and Kalipi, City Population Office, MARPA, youth in different barangays in the city; Department of Education, Holy Child Hospital; Silliman University Medical Centr, Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital, and Dumaguete City HIV/AIDS Council.

During a short program, Site Implementation Coordinator, STI/HIV/AIDS Program, Boel Espinas of the Department of Health (DOH7) is invited to give an update to Dumagueteños on HIV/AIDS situation especially in Central Visayas.

Peace Corps Response Volunteer (PCRV) Jessica Mc Ghie will also be present to give the rationale regarding the activity.

Talla said the CHO in Dumaguete City does not have any recorded AIDS case, but she urged the public to report to her office those who have any symptoms of HIV/AIDS.

The health official also encouraged stakeholders, government officials, barangay officials, health workers to participate in the activity.

Meanwhile, Talla shared the method of prevention and control against HIV/AIDS through abstinence, be faithful, condom use, don’t use drugs, and Education or ABCDE.

Anyone can acquire the HIV through receiving infected blood and blood products in a transfusion, sharing injecting equipment, woman with HIV can pass the virus to her child during pregnancy, delivery or breastfeeding and unprotected penetrative sexual intercourse, Talla said.

“To prevent HIV use only screened blood for transfusion, not sharing injecting equipment, not having sex or having one partner and your partner having only you as partner, engaging in non-penetrative safer sex practices like hugging, kissing, massaging and using condom correctly and consistently,” Dr. Talla further said, (mbcn/JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)