Youth leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member-countries cited the Quezon City government’s anti HIV-AIDS program, particularly its non-discrimination policy in its social hygiene clinics.
Young leaders from Singapore, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Brunei, Malaysia, Cambodia and Indonesia together with officials of the National Youth Commission of the Philippines held a “side summit” tackling the region’s HIV-AIDS problem and its effect on the youth.
Quezon City was selected by the Department of Health as a model on how local governments should address the HIV-AIDS problem.
According to Puwish Bowarnditkhunlanad, an alumnus of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) and a student of Chiang Mai University in Thailand, Klinika Bernardo has a good community-based campaign in the prevention of the HIV-AIDS epidemic.
“Even me I got knowledge about using condom and how it protects me from HIV. I hope to teach this in my country. In Thailand people are treated in a hospital and it’s very crowded, but here it’s nice. The clinic is available from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.,” said Bowarnditkhunlanad.
He said the Quezon City government should be congratulated for initiating the move to establish a non-discriminatory facility for HIV-AIDS patients that caters not only to Quezon City residents but to anyone who wish to avail of its services.
Klinika Bernardo offers confidentiality and non-discriminatory services to its clients.
The staff in the clinic are well-trained in male sexual health, counseling of patient and their families and in the treatment of HIV-AIDS.
Klinika Bernardo, which was established during the first term of Mayor Herbert Bautista in 2012, is located at the back of Ramon Magsaysay High School, EDSA across Mega Q-Mart in Cubao, Quezon City. (Chito Chavez)