Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory (QCJMD) warden Supt. Michelle Bonto on Wednesday, April 6, said that they are targeting a total of 1,250 persons deprived of liberty (PDL) to get tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) during its “HIV Screening, Treatment, and Counselling" activity on April 4-8.
The activity, held at the jail facility in Kamuning, aims to provide HIV and Syphilis (a sexually transmitted disease or STD) screening to the PDLS and spread awareness on how the virus can affect the body and immune system as well as its symptoms and warning signs.
“Kaya natin isinasagawa itong HIV mass screening kasi tinuturing pong vulnerable groups yung mga nasa kulungan lalong lalo na yung may mga TB infection, yung mga may low BMI , yung mga nangangayayat ano, at yung mga bagong commit na PDL, siyempre hindi natin alam ang medical history kaya kasama sila infection, low BMI , and the newly committed PDLs since we don’t know their medical history),” Bonto said.
The warden added that they are eyeing 250 PDLs to undergo screening per day and the results will be released two days after.
According to the QCJMD, the participants will sign counselling and consent forms before the test which will be done by drawing 5 milliliters (ml) of blood from them. The blood samples will be brought to a laboratory to detect the disease.
It said that a confirmatory test will be done on a PDL who will test positive for the disease. Once confirmed, the participant will undergo counselling to address issues and concerns connected to it.
To protect their privacy, the identity of the PDL with HIV or other STDs will remain anonymous.
Bonto said the QC Jail is capable of providing treatment to those confirmed with HIV with the help of Bernardo Social Hygiene Clinic, their partner for the activity, and the Department of Health (DOH).
“Nakakatulong po tayo sa kumunidad na dito pa lang sa kulungan ay madetect na po natin yung mga may HIV at dito pa lang magagamot na sila bago po sila lumabas sa kulungan (We are able to help the community by detecting those with HIV here in jail and by helping them to get treated before they leave the prison),” she added.
The partnership of the QCJMD and Bernardo Social Hygiene Clinic already resulted in a total of 521 PDLs screened against the disease in 2021, and another 521 in January 2022.
Bonto said that the test results of the 250 PDLS screened last April 4 were all negative for HIV.