Draft law seen to improve gov’t response to AIDS

MANILA, Philippines - The filing by legislators of a draft law to replace the Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998 will help improve the government’s response to the country’s HIV epidemic, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said yesterday.

Senate Bill 1390, if enacted, aims to improve access to HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) prevention services, including sex education and HIV testing, and ensures better access to health and support services.

The proposal aims to lower the age – from 18 to 15 – of children that can be tested without parental consent.

It also allows children under 15 to get tested with the consent of a social worker and prohibits health insurers from denying coverage to people with HIV.

Carlos Conde, HRW Asia Division researcher, said the bill aims to counter an alarming reality that the Philippines has one of the highest rates of new HIV infections in Asia.

Data from the Department of Health show 27 Filipinos – mostly below 24 years old — contract the virus every day.

“This emergency situation needs an emergency response,” said Sen. Risa Hontiveros, one of the bill’s authors.

In a December report, the rights group criticized the government for not taking steps to reduce infection rates among men who have sex with men, the group with the most number of new infections.

It said the government failed to make condoms available to these men and should help them access health services. It should also help them fight stigma and discrimination.

 “The bill’s major flaw is its lack of specificity about the crucial role of condoms in HIV prevention. Lawmakers should address this by directing the Department of Health to improve condom access, particularly among men who engage in sex with men. Doing so will help push back conservative lawmakers who hope to prevent promotion of condom use as part of safer sex education,” Conde pointed out.

“It will also counter the recent decision of the Departments of Health and of Education to withdraw a proposal to make condoms accessible to high school students,” he added,

Conde said Senate Bill 1390 would be a major step for official efforts to control the HIV epidemic.

“Now it’s up to legislators to see the wisdom of a better official response to the HIV epidemic and to pass a version of the bill including provisions on condom use.”