Matalam health searches wives of suspected HIV positive

MATALAM, North Cotabato (Sept. 18/NDBC) -- TheRural health Unit (RHU) here is searching forthree women who were wives of a mansuspected to have been infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus(HIV), a health official said. Dr. Rhemia Guianan, municipal health officer (MHO),said her office isnow coordinating with the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO)-North Cotabato to locate the whereabouts of three women who she did not identify. This after a man confessed he believed he was HIV positive.Guianan stressed the man is not yet medically proven to be HIV positive but his admission to health workers made the health department to act accordingly and appropriately. They were last seen in the towns of Matalam and Kabacan, Guianan told and//www.ndbcnews.com.ph www.ndbcnews.com.ph , theNDBC news website. Guianan said thethree women were wives of a self-confessed 26-years-old resident who admitted he has symptoms of HIV.Guianan said she was able to talk to the manduring one of the town'smedical missions in remote villages. He personally approached our medical team and confessed that he believed hewas HIV positive,” Guianan said. The town’s health chief said the alleged victim seemed to be worried with his health condition as he was already losing weight and appeared pale and thin. Guianan, however, said her office is not capable of determining if he has indeed HIV. We have not conducted any tests on him, she said, adding that the Matalam RHU referred the case to the Integrated Provincial Health Office. The town’s health officer appealed to these three women to coordinate RHU so that he can be referred to concern government agencies for appropriate intervention.Meantime, the health office here is strengthening its Information Education Campaign (IEC) against HIV-AIDS among teenagers down tovillage level. Guianan said she sent her team to various schools to educate high school students and villagers regarding the cause and effects of HIV-AIDS. HIV-AIDS awareness campaign is also being implemented in every village health station. (NDBC)