In a concerted effort to strengthen the prevention, control, and treatment of HIV, AIDS, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Cavite, the Office of the Provincial Health Officer (OPHO), in collaboration with Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. and Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment Through Alternative Legal Services (IDEALS) Inc., spearheaded the HIV Advocacy Local Policy Dialogue and Ordinance Writeshop on November 21-22, 2024 at the Cavite Collaboration Center for Public Health, GEAMH Compound in Trece Martires City.
The two-day writeshop gathered doctors and nurses from city and municipal health offices of the province, along with members of the Cavite Province Multi-sectoral STI, HIV, AIDS Council (CPAC). The primary objective was to identify practical action points and collaboration areas in finalizing and advocating for the enactment of proposed local legislation for HIV, AIDS and STI prevention, control and treatment.
The write shop commenced with a presentation on the HIV situation in Cavite delivered by Ms. Haydelisa Maderazo, Provincial HIV Program Coordinator. This set the stage for participants to better understand the local context and the pressing need for policy reform.
The lecture proper began with an overview of Republic Act 11166, the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act, designed to familiarize participants with its key provisions. To deepen their knowledge of effective policy-making, the IDEALS team of legal experts facilitated discussions on critical topics such as, Policy Framework Building, Policy Development and Systems Thinking, Identifying Interventions, Addressing Delivery Challenges, and Exploring Opportunities
Workshops and open forums were integrated throughout the sessions, ensuring a participative and thorough understanding of the concepts discussed.
The writeshop concluded with the creation of an action plan, in which participants identified strategies, key activities, and specific timelines to achieve the goal of endorsing the proposed legislation to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and, ultimately, enacting the local HIV, AIDS-related ordinance.
The event highlighted the importance of collaboration, equipping stakeholders with the tools and knowledge necessary to effectively address HIV challenges in Cavite. — OPIO