As part of its Pride Month celebration, the Quezon City government inaugurated “Klinika Eastwood”, which will provide comprehensive HIV and STI testing, counseling, and treatment services, among others.
Mayor Joy Belmonte led the inauguration of the landmark project, the first Private-Public Partnership (PPP) in the country to establish such a facility, together with officials of Megaworld Management, Philippine National AIDS Council and the Department of Health..
“Mahalagang makapaglagay tayo ng dagdag na HIV primary care clinic/treatment hub na madaling puntahan ng QCitizens, mga nagtutungo sa mall, mga residente sa Eastwood at mga karatig barangay,” Belmonte said.
Quezon City currently has an HIV primary care clinic in five of its six districts, and is working on establishing one in District 6.
Belmonte underscored the need for establishing HIV primary care clinics, saying they will help meet the diverse healthcare needs of its population.
“Mahalaga ang ganitong mga klinika, lalo pa’t mataas ang kaso ng HIV at iba pang sexually transmitted infections sa ating bansa. Natutugunan nito ang malaking hamon ukol sa kanilang pangangailangang medikal,” she said.
The establishment of HIV primary clinics is also aimed at meeting the global target of 95-95-95 by 2030, in which 95 percent of people living with HIV know their HIV status, 95 percent of diagnosed PLHIV are on antiretroviral therapy, and 95 percent of PLHIV is virally suppressed.
The setting up of clinics was mandated under SP 3126- S 2021 or the Comprehensive Quezon City STI, HIV, and AIDS Prevention and Control Ordinance of 2021. This is also part of the city’s campaign of Zero at 2030: Bahagi ka ng Solusyon which encourages community involvement in addressing HIV and AIDS.
”I would also like to acknowledge and express gratitude to Megaworld Management for joining our advocacy to promote an inclusive environment that will promote the wellness of every individual, without them experiencing stigma and discrimination,” Belmonte said.
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