PHILIP P IN E AI DS

PREVENT ION AND

C ONTROL ACT OF 1998

RA No. 8504
 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

refers to the virus which causes AIDS.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

(AIDS) a condition characterized by a
combination of signs and symptoms, caused by
HIV contracted from another person and which
attacks and weakens the body's immune system,
making the afflicted individual susceptible to
other life-threatening infections.
 ORIGIN OF THE HUMAN
IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS
(HIV)

Identified in the 1980s

The link between HIV and SIV

Did HIV come from monkeys?

How did HIV cross from chimps to humans?

Did HIV start in Africa?

What happened in the 1980s in the USA?

The first case of HIV infection in the
Philippines was reported in January 1984.

Between 1984 and 1990, there were 216

reported cases. 62% (133 of 216) of it were
female. 38% (83 of 216) of it were male

In the year 1998, Republic Act No. 8504

was enacted.
 SALIENT POINTS OF RA 8504

This was enacted in line with the States

responsibility to:
promote public awareness about the causes,
modes of transmission, consequences, means of
prevention and control of HIV/AIDS through a
comprehensive nationwide educational and
information campaign organized and conducted by
the State.

extend to every person suspected or known to be

infected with HIV/AIDS full protection of his/her
human rights and civil liberties.
promote utmost safety and universal precautions in practices
and procedures that carry the risk of HIV transmission.

positively address and seek to eradicate conditions that

aggravate the spread of HIV infection, including but not
limited to, poverty, gender inequality, prostitution,
marginalization, drug abuse and ignorance.

recognize the potential role of affected individuals in

propagating vital information and educational messages about
HIV/AIDS and shall utilize their experience to warn the public
about the disease.
 ARTICLE 1
The Government must promote education and
information campaigns.
Schools and non-formal education programs must
include HIV education.

The DOH must conduct public health education

campaigns.

The government must provide education for

Filipinos going abroad.
Employers, working with DOLE, must develop
workplace education and safety.

The Department of Tourism must provide education

for tourists.

LGUs must develop local HIV prevention and

education efforts.

It is against the law to give false or intentionally

misleading information on HIV/AIDS
 ARTICLE 2
The Government will develop and promote safe
medical practices
All blood, organs, and tissue for donation will be
tested. If it tests positive, it will be disposed of
safely, and not used.

The DOH will provide guidelines on safe surgery

and medical procedures.

Wilfully or negligently dangerous practices will be

against the law.
 ARTICLE 3
The Government will provide appropriate confidential HIV
testing.
HIV testing can only be done with the consent of the person
tested.

The DOH will provide anonymous HIV testing.

Counselling will be conducted before and after testing.

The DOH will make adequate and affordable HIV testing

available in all of the Philippines.
 ARTICLE 4
The Government will ensure adequate health and
support services for people with HIV.
Hospitals will provide adequate care for persons with
HIV.
LGUs must provide community-based prevention and
care efforts.
Livelihood efforts will be made available for people
with HIV.
The DOH is to make sure that health insurance is
available to people with HIV.
 ARTICLE 5
The Government will monitor HIV/AIDS
The Government will establish an
AIDSWATCH council.
Reporting procedures will be developed to
track HIV rates, while respecting client
confidentiality.
Contract tracing is permitted provided
confidentiality is not breached.
 ARTICLE 6
Confidentiality will be protected on HIV status.
All healthcare workers, and anyone handling health
records will strictly preserve patient confidentiality on HIV
status, and the identity of people with HIV.
HIV status can be shared by health officials in three
circumstances; officials of the AIDSWATCH council, Health
workers who are involved in treatment and need to know
for their own safety, and a judge if under subpoena for an
official court case.
HIV results may be given to the person tested, an
official of the AIDSWATCH council, and a parent or
guardian. It cannot be given to anyone else.
Legal penalties can be provided for breaching
confidentiality.

People with HIV must inform spouses and sex

partners as soon as reasonably possible.
 ARTICLE 7
Discrimination against people with HIV is illegal.
Employers cannot discriminate in hiring, firing, promotion,
or assignment based on actual or suspected HIV status.
Schools are not allowed to refuse admission, punish
students, or deny participation in activities based on real or
perceived HIV status.
A person with HIV has the legal right to travel, live, and
lodge with the same freedom as any other citizen.
Quarantines and other restrictions are illegal.
A person with HIV has every legal right to seek pubic office.
Credit services cannot be denied based on HIV
status. Insurance cannot be refused based on HIV
status, provided the person does not lie about their
HIV status.
Hospitals can heath services cannot refuse
treatment or discriminate based on HIV status.
Decent burials cannot be denied based on HIV
status.
Legal penalties for discrimination will be enforced.
 ARTICLE 8

The government will establish a Philippine

National AIDS Council

This council will be responsible for

implementing the act and conducting all
national AIDS performances.
The passing of the Philippine AIDS Prevention and
Control Act in 1998 was also a landmark in the countrys
fight against HIV/AIDS.

Since the year 2000, the high-prevalence age group has

changed from the 30-39 year old age group being the most
affected from years 2000-2004, to the 25-34 age group
from years 2005 to 2009.
Cases are concentrated among men who
have sex with men, and secondarily,
among female sex workers. HIV cases
among men having sex with men
multiplied over 10 times since 2010. HIV
cases are getting younger.

The infection rate among men having

sex with men has multiplied 10 times from
2010 to 2015.
In the years 2010 to 2015, 91% (22,726) of cases
were men with a median age of 28 years, with over half
(12,616) in the 25-34 age group.

From January 2010 to April 2015, 82% (20,512) of all

cases were reported. At the time of reporting, 93% of
these cases were still asymptomatic.

As of April 2015, 9,838 people living with HIV were

undergoing Anti-Retroviral Therapy in 23 treatment
hubs
No effective cure for HIV currently exists, but with proper
medical care, HIV can be controlled. The medicine used to
control the spread of HIV is called antiretroviral therapy or
ART. With continuous medication and proper medical
supervision, antiretroviral therapy can keep HIV patients
healthy, and greatly lower their chance of transmitting the
virus to others.

HIV prevention tips from the Department of Health are in

the form of ABCDE- Abstinence, Being faithful to your
partner, Condom use, saying no to illegal Drugs, and
Educating yourself.

Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/raise-awareness-
aids/300243/
 OTHER BENEFITS

PHILHEALTH
just an additional support to control
the disease. It is used for laboratory
tests then for counselling. It is also a
support to those who are giving care to
the patients
Alarmed by the rise in the cases of HIV-AIDS in the country,
particularly among the youth, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago has
called for amendments to the countrys laws related to the
prevention of the disease. Santiago has filed Senate Bill 186 or the
proposed Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy and Plan Act and Senate
Bill 2728 or the proposed Stop AIDS in Prisons Act to address the
problem being faced by the country.
 The Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Plan Bill seeks to
amend R.A. 8504 or the Philippine AIDS Prevention and
Control Act of 1998 by harmonizing it with evidence-
informed strategies and approaches on prevention,
treatment, care and support.
On the other hand, the Stop AIDS in Prisons Act will
create an HIV-AIDS awareness program in jails, provide
comprehensive medical treatment to inmates living with
the disease and protect prison guards and other personnel
from infection.

Souce: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/06/07/1463074/miriam-seeks-
amendments-hiv/aids-law
 Miss Universe 2015
Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach
meets youth
advocates and people
living with HIV to
listen to their stories
and discuss how to
address HIV in the
Asked why she deserved the crownPhilippines,
during the final question-
especially
and-answer round, Wurtzbach answered: To be aamong
Miss Universe
young
is both an honor and a responsibility. If Ipeople.
were to be Miss
Universe, I will use my voice to influence the youth, and I will
raise awareness... [of] certain causes like HIV [and other issues
that are] timely and relevant to my country.

e: http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/116682-miss-universe-pia-wurtzbach-hiv-awa
On December 2016, Senator Risa Hontiveros who heads the
Senate Committee on Health underwent a voluntary HIV
testing at the Senate in a bid to destigmatize HIV testing.
Its a test that can spell life or death," Hontiveros said.
 "Early diagnosis leads to early treatment and saves lives.
Prevention, early detection and treatment must be made available
by the government. No one deserves a death sentence.
Early this year, Hontiveros filedSenate Bill No. 376or the
Philippine HIV-AIDS Policy Act to update the governments HIV
response framework. Among other provisions, the bill seeks to
allow HIV testing among young people aged 15-17 without
parental consent.
If passed, it will repeal Republic Act 8504 or the Philippine HIV
AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998.

ce: http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/staynegathive/154063-hiv-epidemic-filipino
A new campaign called #Live2LUV aims to inspire,
promote and educate young people on sexual and
reproductive health and rights and HIV, as well as reduce
stigma towards young key populations in the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations region.
FIN