BAGUIO CITY—With the aim to augment health services for persons deprived of liberty, the Department of Health’s National AIDS STI Prevention and Control Program, in partnership with Baguio City Jail and in coordination with Baguio Health Services Office and other health partners, conducted health awareness campaign on TB-HIV and STIs at Baguio City Jail on January 20, 2024.
Participated in by male and female PDL from the male and female dormitory, the activity convened health partners to provide services accessible to PDL like HIV screening complemented by Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines and Tubercolosis awareness lecture by Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), as part and parcel of the campaign towards boosting inclusive health services for PDL.
Darwin F. Babon, the NASPCP Regional Program Manager, conducted the HIV 101 awareness lecture, highlighting the importance of the different combination prevention strategies like condoms and lubricants, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and HIV screening. He also emphasized the three primary methods of transmission: unprotected penetrative sex, mother-to-child transmission, and exposure to infected blood—debunking common misconception of HIV transmission which is associated with kissing, insect bites, sharing of utensils, and the likes.
Following his lecture, Gayhope C. Alangsab, Nurse II of Baguio HSO, supplemented the lecture with an engaging presentation on STI. In her lecture, one key topic that was emphasized was the transmission and prevention of MPOX. As the proximity of the environment in the jail could pose threats on MPOX transmission, Alangsab stresses the need to ensure that health protocols are observed inside the jail and personal hygiene are practiced by the PDL.
Florence Agatha S. Lopez, a technical staff of PBSP, also presented a lecture on Tuberculosis, emphasizing its symptoms and preventive measures. Her lecture also inspired PDL to be attentive to their own health. She urged the PDLs to seek immediate medical care should one exhibit symptoms associated with TB like prolonged cough, rapid weight-loss, chest pain, and fever.
Simultaneously, SHIP and DOH-CAR staff are providing HIV screening to PDL—offering counseling and fast, free, and confidential testing.
Making health within reach behind bars
This endeavor ensures that each is entitled to receive healthcare services. Understanding that PDL are vulnerable to diseases and infections such as STIs, these activities would hopefully promote prevention and detection among PDL while also improving their health-seeking and lifestyle behaviors.
Jail Inspector Jean Billick, the Health Section Chief of BCJ-Male Dormitory, shared that the institution aims to create an environment for PDL to make informed decisions for their own health as holistic healthcare services are becoming more accessible for them. Hence, activities and partnerships across stakeholders amplifies their causes for a healthy and empowered community.
She shared: “We do not know what their activities are outside before entering the jail, so it is better that majority, if not all, committed individuals are screened for them to be given immediate and respective medical attention and treatment.”
Billick added, “It is better to have them [PDL] exposed to lectures for them to be more aware of the risks of infections they may contract if they are unaware of its transmission and prevention.”
Billick also prided that the jail offers other health services and establishes partnerships with private and public partners to bring holistic healthcare services to PDL. She shared that their health missions include, but are not limited to, dental, mental, and hygiene services.
Boosting multi-sectoral and inter-agency partnerships through Project NAMNAMA
Project NAMNAMA (Nurturing Awareness, Mobilizing Networks, and Advocating to Mitigate the Impact of AIDS and STI in CAR) is the banner project of the NASPCP-CAR. Spearheaded by Darwin F. Babon, with the guidance of Dr. Ferdinand M. Benbenen, the Regional Director of DOH-CHD-CAR, Project NAMNAMA stretches its services to key populations and marginalized communities—protecting, empowering, and equipping them against the threats of STIs and with the menace of the silent epidemic of HIV and AIDS.
Its goals of safeguarding the community from these causes cover a variety of populations including, but not limited to, PDL. Hence, Babon shared that he seeks to enhance partnership with jails including BCJ in bringing service delivery to jails for HIV-AIDS and STIs. He also shared that he aims to equip PDL to become empowered peer supporter through capacity building training. In this way, they could become lecturers of their own, educating their peers on STIs.
Moving forward, the NASPCP-CAR through Project NAMNAMA vows to support the visions of BCJ in shaping a community who is responsive towards their own health. Thus, partnerships and collaborations for this cause are ensured to promote inclusive health services for all. // Mark Gonzalo D. Benter, Health Program Officer II, DOH-CHD-CAR