Colorized image of HIV-infected H9 T-cell. Photo from Wikimedia Commons.
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Preventing yourself from risk behavior is one of the best ways to help stop the problem on HIV in the country. Anyone can get HIV so it’s very important to know some ways to reduce your risk of getting this kind of infection.

Many people are not aware on how HIV is being transmitted to a person. It’s not just a case of person-to-person but it can also be transmitted through certain body fluids from an infected person, although experts say that kissing an HIV-infected person does not give you HIV.

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Our government through different agencies is doing  advocacy to help stop HIV/AIDS. This, when the country was identified as one of the nations with the fastest growing infection on HIV.

Article I, section 9 of RA 8504 – Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act (AIDS LAW) states that local government units, in collaboration with DOH, shall conduct educational and information campaign on HIV/AIDS. The provincial governor, city or municipal and the barangay captain shall coordinate such campaign among concerned government agencies, non-government organizations and church-based groups.

As per Labor Department Office Order No. 102-10, it is mandatory for all private workplaces to have a policy on HIV and AIDS and to implement a workplace program in accordance with RA 8504 (provision of standard basic information on HIV & AIDS).

In support to this campaign, the Philippine Information Agency and the City Health Office in Isabela City conducted free orientation to some 85 self-employed participants on the Sulit Multi-Sectoral Forum held recently.

Ma. Victoria Lintag, Nurse II of Isabela City Health Office discussed to the participants some information about Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) as life-threatening condition caused by virus.

The speaker emphasized the importance of prevention, which is easier to stop something from happening than to repair the damage after it has happened. This means that it is most important to understand how this kind of virus is transmitted in order to prevent the infection.

Participants were very participative during the discussion which is a sign of their interest to learn more about the said topic. Some of them were also barangay health workers and expressed their willingness to help in information and education campaign and unite in the fight against HIV, and raise awareness of their friends and relatives of the continuing epidemic not just in the country but around the globe. (pia ix)

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