CHO sets International AIDS candlelight memorial on May 19

By: Jennifer Catan-Tilos

DUMAGUETE CITY, May 18 (PIA) The 28th annual International AIDS Candlelight Memorial will be observed on May 19 at 6:00 p.m. at Quezon Park to be led by Dumaguete City Health Office (CHO).

The CHO conducts the candlelight memorial to commemorate those who have lost their lives to Aids, to support those living with HIV, and to move communities to action.

Part of the observance, a motorcade will go around the city before the program starts which also include prayers and songs.

According to Dr. Sarah Talla of CHO this annual activity has started by Silliman University Extension Program (SUEP) headed by Dr. Fe Sycip-Wale.

This year’s celebration banners the theme, “Touching Lives” to shows support for people living with HIV/AIDS, raise community awareness and decrease stigma to families with HIV/AIDS and to mobilize community involvement in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Dr. Talla said.

Dr. Wale said in 1998 AIDS in the country has recorded 6,498 cases.  Of this number most of them have already died for not seeking proper treatment.

Cases of AIDS until now have been increasing in the country with 172 as of March this year, while in the same period of last year 120 cases were recorded with almost half in 2009, said Wale.

In Negros Oriental, three individuals had infected with HIV-AIDS, cited Cristina Dagle, Nurse II and STI/HIV-AIDS Coordinator Sa Provincial Health Office.

However, Dagle did not mention the names and their addresses of the victims, two of them were already dead.

In Dumaguete City, CHO has no records of any cases of AIDS, according to Dr. Talla, but the doctor urged the public to report to her office those who have any symptoms of HIV AIDS.

With this, Dr. Talla also encourages the stakeholders, government officials, barangay officials, health workers to participate in the activity. (PIA NegOr/JCT)