What are HIV and AIDS?

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a fatal communicable disease with no effective
treatment or known cure. It is the final stage of infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV). When HIV enters the body it attacks the body’s immune system. Thus, the body becomes
vulnerable to opportunistic infections or diseases that develop when the body’s defense system
becomes weak. Among these infections are Kaposi’s sarcoma, a rare but deadly type of skin cancer,
recurrent pneumonia, and toxoplasmosis within the brain. Early symptoms of infection with HIV may
include a rash, sore throat, fever, and tiredness. Nearly everyone with HIV develops AIDS. People with
AIDS cannot fight off diseases that healthy people could easily resist. Because AIDS has no cure, people
with AIDS eventually die from one of these diseases.

HIV must enter into the person’s bloodstream to infect the person. HIV has been found in many body
fluids including blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk of infected person.

There are an increasing number of young people being infected with Sexually Transmitted Infections
(STIs) or for every 10 cases 1 is a child. The most serious of these diseases is AIDS

Reducing the Risks of Sexually Transmitted Infections KEEPING FIT

 Safeguarding one’s sexual health starts from accurate information and awareness of
sexuality-related issues.
 Sexually-transmitted infections could be completely eradicated if people practice wise
decision-making skills and firmly say no to risky sexual behaviors.
 The best way a teenager can prevent sexuality-related problems is through sexual
abstinence. Abstinence is refraining completely from sexual relations with other people.

Government Policies in the Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS and Other STIs

 Republic Act No. 8504 also known as Philippine AIDS Law

 Government efforts in ensuring a clean blood supply to prevent issues and Problems related
to sexuality (RA 7719) or the Blood Services Act of 1994)

Republic Act 8504 also known as the Philippine Aids Law

The Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998 or RA 8504 is the government’s response to
the threat of HIV/AIDS in the country. Important provisions of the law include the following:

 The State shall promote public awareness about HIV/AIDS through various modalities:
integration in the curriculum or development of special modules in basic education; inclusion in
tertiary and vocational curriculum; providing education in the workplace, for Filipinos going
abroad and among community people in general.
  The State shall also ensure safe practices and procedures regarding donation of blood, organ or
tissue.
 The State shall provide a mechanism for anonymous HIV testing and shall guarantee anonymity
and medical confidentiality in the conduct of such tests.
 The Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC) shall oversee an integrated and comprehensive
approach to HIV/AIDS prevention and control in the Philippines.

RA 7719 or the Blood Services act of 1994.

This law protects and promotes public health through provisions related to blood donation. The
government promotes voluntary blood donation as a humanitarian act. However, there are
requirements that you need to meet if you want to donate blood. This is to ensure a clean and safe
blood supply. Thus, you need to live a healthy lifestyle in order for you to be a voluntary blood donor in
the future.

To protect you from blood transfusion transmissible diseases like HIV/AIDS, this law lays down
the legal principle that the provision of blood for transfusion is a professional medical service and not a
sale of a commodity. They establish scientific and professional standards for the operation of blood
collection units and blood banks/centers in the Philippines. People don’t have to sell blood as a
commodity. To be a responsible voluntary donor you donate the blood for a cause through medical and
scientific care.