Being part of the Mission: VCT at the helm

“Low and slow but hidden and growing.” This is the description of HIV-AIDS incidence in the Philippines. As of August 2009, there are 4,082 HIV-AIDS reported in the National Epidemiology Center by the Department of Health, but the NEC estimates it to be 7,000-9,000 cases. Most of the infected belong to the 20-39 years bracket, with 70% male.

With this increasing number of infected individuals and affected families, the St. Camillus Pastoral Healthcare Center HIV-AIDS Team conducted the Voluntary HIV Counselling and Testing (VCT) Training Seminar last October 28-31, 2009. The participants include nine Camillian Scholastics, four Holy Spirit Sisters, two Camillian Sisters and two staff nurses from our Polyclinic in Pasig. One participant exclaimed “This is a unique training because it combines the psychosocial, biomedical and pastoral aspects of HIV-AIDS. To be a good counsellor of people living with HIV-AIDS, you need a good grasp of the disease and how HIV testing is done.”

The aim of the training seminar is to form counsellors for PLWHA, thus the training seminar included sessions on epidemiology, biomedical and testing of HIV-AIDS, Pre-Test and Post-Test counselling and even a workshop and practicum on counselling PLWHA and people at risk with HIV.

The resource persons were Dr. Annie Ditangco, Head of HIV Research Group of RITM (Research Institute for Tropical Medicine) who handled the Counselling of PLWHA;  Sch. Dan Cancino, Jr., MI who handled the epidemiology, biomedical and the Behaviour change communication case analysis sessions;  Sch. John Jay Magpusao, MI who focused on the role of HIV testing in VCT, and  Sr. Fe Santos, SMI who tackled the moral implications of HIV-AIDS.  Dr. Cherry Tactacan-Abrenica, Head of the HIV-AIDS Core Team of San Lazaro Hospital,  Dr. Anjo Aguadera, Psychiatrist of HIV-AIDS of San Lazaro Hospital and Bro. Lito Cruz, a volunteer Counselor in H4 Pavillion of the same Hospital facilitated the workshop and practicum of the pre-test and post-test counselling.

Whether they like it or not, the participants become part of the mission involving PLWHA, especially those who are in need of compassionate, caring and competent counsellors.  Be part of the mission; participate in the pastoral training and VCT for HIV-AIDS.