The Quezon City government, led by Mayor Joy Belmonte, is ready to end HIV cases in the city.
This was when Belmonte and Quezon City officials launched the ZERO 2030 campaign to fight HIV in the Seda Vertis QC.
“The Philipines is number one in terms of the rate of increase in HIV, and as the country’s most populated city, we comprise 10 percent of all new cases. About two people a day get HIV in QC. I am taking on the challenge of fighting this disease in our beloved city,” said Belmonte.
Mayor Belmonte, Vice Mayor Gian Sotto, and other city councilors, as well as other officials, underwent an AIDS test in support of the campaign against the incurable disease.
According to a DOH report, the UNAIDS said that the National Capital Region (NCR) recorded the highest number of HIV cases – about 39 percent of the total PLHIV population.
The Joint United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) reported in October 2019 that the Philippines has the fastest-growing number of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) cases in the world.
HIV cases in Quezon city
In QC, there are over 8,000 cases of AIDS, wherein most of the patients are professionals.
Most victims of the disease are being treated at the Klinika Bernardo in Novaliches QC.
The Klinika Bernardo caters to men with aids while the QC general hospital is caring for HIV positive women.
“QC recognizes the problem; we allocate funds for it at kaya po nagkaroon ng Klinika Bernardo ay para rito natin sila aalagaan (we have Klinika Bernardo to take care of them). We treated them as friend, treated with respect, and ensure health services,” said Belmonte.
Quezon City is the first local government in the country which has a dedicated clinic for HIV-AIDS patients. The city garnered awards from different sectors and companies for its campaign to prevent the disease.
