NOTES AND REFLECTIONS DURING THE CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR THE S.A.V.E TRAINERS IN THE PHILIPPINES

NOTES AND REFLECTIONS DURING THE CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR THE S.A.V.E TRAINERS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Sponsored by the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), in partnership with the Church of Sweden, held at the NCCP Conference Hall, September 22-23, 2016

by Rev. Jeric C. Cortado, SPMCI

It’s about 10 in the morning of September 22, 2016, when The Continuing Education for S.A.V.E. (Safer Practices, Access to Treatment, Voluntary Counseling and Testing, Empowerment) Trainers in the Philippine was formally begun through the Opening Worship. The participants were divided into small groups and given the opportunity each of us to share our reflection on the Gospel according to Mark 2:1-12. This gospel is about the story of a paralytic person and his band of friends who brought him to Jesus. This band of friends opened the roof of the house that hinders the people to experience the healing and empowering presence of God through Jesus. This band of friends represents of what the church should be - a compassionate community that empowers, provides holistic healing, and redemption of the people weakened by any form of illness. When Jesus said, “Get up, pick up your mat, and go home”, for the people living with HIV is a statement of assurance.  Thus, in Jesus’ movement and community the people living with HIV are free from stigma and discrimination. They are at home.

After the Opening Worship, Ms. Bai Bagasao, the Country Director of the UNAIDS presented the HIV Situation in the Philippines and the United Nations AIDS Fast Tract Target. In her presentation, the United Nation AIDS envision to end AIDS by 2030 and no one is left behind. Reduce the HIV infection to less than 500,000 by 2020; to reduce new HIV related death to fewer 500,000 by 2020; and to eliminate HIV related stigma and discrimination by 2020. Ms. Bagasao pointed out the indicator of addressing the stigma and discrimination. This is to address the fear of the people living with HIV going to the treatment hub located in their locality; strengthen the support group in our local community; train and tap the alternative law group; and providing safe space and secure place for the PLHIV; and there must be a cultural change among them.

In the afternoon, The Philippine Health Situation under the Duterte Administration (Topic 2) was presented by the Council of Health and Development. The presentation begins in a question: “Is change is coming for the health of the people?” It is a question assessing the commitment and agenda of the Duterte Administration when it comes to the health of the Filipino people. In the Duterte Health Agenda, President Duterte committed to give priority the health of the Filipino people guided by the motto, “All for Health towards Health for All.” This expressed his commitment to provide care for all stages of life with the following strategies in order to achieve:

ü    Advance primary health care, its quality and effectiveness.

ü    Cover all Filipinos with comprehensive health financing.

ü    Harness health human resources for productivity.

ü    Invest in digital health and date.

ü    Enforce standards, accountability and transparency.

ü    Value clients and patients.

ü    Elicit multi-stakeholder support for health.

According to the Council for Health and Development, in order that the Duterte Health Agenda be successful, the government needs to confront societal realities and the real state of the people’s health. The government needs to address the chronic poverty, landlessness, and unemployment. The daily income of the Filipino is not enough to sustain a decent life. Thus, affect the health condition of the people. Does the Duterte Health Agenda can be achieved through the P92.5 billion budget for health which is equivalent to 2.8% of the total national budget? A budget that is below from the World Health Organization’s standard which is supposed to be 5% of the national budget. And out of 92.5 billion, only P1.5 million is allocated to the infectious diseases, emerging and re-merging diseases.

After the presentation of the Council for Health and Development, Rev. Fr. J.P. Heath of the Church of Sweden facilitated the third topic which was the Updating of the S.A.V.E Trainers on their accomplishments and challenges encountered.

The day one of the seminar ended at 5 o’clock in the afternoon. We have free time in the evening that I maximized to attend a Lecture Series on Personal Growth and Leadership at the Asian Institute Management at Makati City, Philippines. I am thankful to Rev. Dr. Neki Soriano with Rev. Apriniel Salmon for the invitation. What I’ve learned in the 1 ½ hours lecture was the new perspective of life from the point of view of the business sector. If you have a business, do not allow yourself to be owned by your business. Setting the goal of life is very important. So you can make a comprehensive plan on how to fulfil it, and would guide us of knowing our partners in implementing the plan. Thus, you can do something different and be something different. 

It’s about 9 in the morning of September 23, 2016 when the fourth topic, Care and Support for PLHIV presented by the different organizations working with the people living with HIV. One of the invited resource persons who are inflicted with HIV was Nanay Ellen who challenged us to live out the 3 P’s which stand for Pang-unawa, Pagtanggap, at Patas na karapatan. The resources persons reminded us that “A person living with HIV is also a person with dignity”.

After the testimony of Nanay Ellen, Fr. J.P. Heath explained that when a person has sustained viral suppression there is no risk of viral transmission in sexual intercourse. He shared that the World Health Organization has a protocol in treating the HIV infections. Such as, (1) test; (2) initiate treatment if the person tested is positive; and (3) initiate viral load suppression.

The last topic was the Community Based Screening for HIV presented by the HIV and AIDS Support House. This followed by planning by area, group, region, and institution including the SPMCI. What I proposed are the following:

1.       Training of Pastoral Counselor for PLHIV and the S.A.V.E Approach.

2.       Summer Immersion to the Support Group of PLHIV

3.       Basic Orientation of HIV and AIDS for the High School Students

The seminar formally closed through a Closing Worship which highlighted the act of commitment of the SAVE Trainers and the giving of tool kit and certificate of participation. I am thankful to the National Council of Churches in the Philippines in partnership with the Church of Sweden, for giving me the opportunity to attend the series training-seminar on ministry with PLHIV using the SAVE approach. It is my commitment to continue and advocate this special ministry to my local area through the programs of SPMCI and its networks. Amen.