People joined and supported the AIDS candlelight memorial held at the Velarde Hall of Imus City Health office in Bgy. Medicion 1-C, Monday, May 30, 2022. Photo by Dennis Abrina
Imus LGU holds AIDS candlelight memorial
IMUS CITY, Cavite – The local government under City Health Office and Imus Reproductive and Wellness Center held a solemn AIDS Candlelight Memorial on Monday sunset, May 30, 2022, at the Velarde Health Center, Bgy. Medication 1-C.
PLHIV and PLAIDS, or People Living with HIV/AIDS, joined the awareness campaign working together with the Health Department to end the stigma against the disease and continue to advance the reach of affordable protection and healing of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
Anchoring on this year’s theme, “Keeping the Light, Honoring our Rights, Radiating Pride”, served as a platform for the unity of various groups to raise awareness of the different HIV programs of the government and civil society organizations geared toward the commitment to the advocacy of eliminating HIV and AIDS-related stigma and discrimination.
Highlights of the event were the candlelight ceremony and the AIDS Hour – set from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., coinciding with the observance of the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial (IACM) 2022 to commemorate those who have died of AIDS.
To date, the City Health Office under Dr. Ferdie Mina has recorded around 355 cases since they started in 2017. Twelve of them died of the disease.
“Imus LGU provides medicines for the patients with HIV, They need to here at Center, regarding on the consultation, we have group message or so-called ‘GCs’ doon na kami-kami nag-uusap ng mga patients,” Dr. Mina said.
Hundreds of LGBTQ+ and HIV community members attended the event.
