ROXAS City — Health officials in Capiz are all set for the 5th Western Visayas AIDS Congress to be held here this month.
Provincial Health Office medical specialist Evelyn Bolido said the province is ready to host the event that is expected to gather some 200 health workers and people living with HIV (PLHIV) from different provinces in Region 6.
Co-hosting the event is Capiz Shells, a group of gays in the province, Bolido said.
HIV or human immunodeficiency virus causes AIDS or acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
As of April this year, Capiz has 21 PLHIV, Bolido revealed.
The AIDS Congress will kick off with a motorcade on Monday. Department of Health Assistant Secretary Pauline Jean Ubial will be the keynote speaker.
Gov. Victor Tanco will welcome the guests and participants, while Vice Mayor Ronnie Dadivas, on behalf of Mayor Angel Alan Celino, will do the same on behalf of the city, Bolido said.
The event is anchored on the theme “Working Together in Sustaining HIV and AIDS Initiatives in Western Visayas,” she added.
It aims to harmonize and scale up strategies on HIV prevention, treatment, care and support through local partnerships and community mobilization to provide quality HIV/AIDS services in Western Visayas, Bolido said.
It also aims to eliminate discrimination against PLHIV and increase public awareness on issues and concerns affecting the said people, she pointed out.
“We want the PLHIV to live a normal life. The community can help them attain this goal through proper care and support,” she said.
