Hantop Wellness Center successfully conducted HIV 101 and RA 11166 refresher for the 1st batch of all nurses and nursing attendants of Dr. Rafael S. Tumbukon Memorial Hospital. Dr. Cornelio V. Cuachon Jr. gives his opening remarks to all the participants of the said activity. HIV 101 was discussed by Iris Torres, HACT Nurse and followed by RA 11166 or the HIV/AIDS Policy Act of 2018. The aim of the said activity is to understand HIV in Hospital setting, the proper referral system also was discussed by Doc Barrios and to eliminate the stigma and discrimination in workplace towards People Living with HIV. Also present is the HACT Chairman of Hantop Wellness Center Dr. Leilanie Barrios gives her closing remarks on the said activity.

On September 30, 2024 and October 4, 2024, Dr. Leilanie Barrios, HACT Chairman gave a short talk to the students of Aklan State University – Kalibo Campus and Aklan State University – New Washington Campus, respectively regarding HIV Awareness and Prevention as part of their celebration of their Teacher’s Day program. She emphasized the importance of getting tested among the 25-34 year old age group and 15-24 year old as cases for these age brackets are continuously rising and encouraging the community to be proactive in ending the spread of HIV cases in our community.

On October 3, 2024, delegates from Ministry of Health of Indonesia cross learning team visited HANTOP Wellness Center to gain insights on the challenges and progress of the treatment hub, especially in the provision of youth-friendly HIV services. During the visit, Dr. Leilanie Barrios, HACT chairman and Dr. Cornelio “Bong” Cuachon Jr., Chief of Hospital, talked about the strategies, barriers, and innovations of HANTOP in providing HIV services to the community.

To better assist in the improvement of HIV testing indicators and assess the implementation of the HIV Program, the Department of Health Disease Prevention and Control Bureau conducted an onsite monitoring visit at HANTOP Wellness Center last October 3, 2024. The DOH DPCB team was also accompanied by WV CHD and Developmental Partners from Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. - SHIP.

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Thank you very much for your visit and assistance DOH DPCB, DOH WV, and Developmental Partners!

According to the First Quarter HIV & AIDS Surveillance of the Philippines, there has been a 55% increase of pregnant women diagnosed with HIV for the First Quarter of 2024 compared to the First Quarter of 2023. Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) approach is part of the HIV services offered to reach the 95-95-95 target set by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIVIAIDS (UNAIDS). The goal of the PMTCT approach is to eliminate the spread of HIV among infants and children.

In collaboration with the OB department of Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital, HANTOP Wellness Center offered free HIV testing among expecting mothers attending the OB Day celebration, " Bongga Ka Nay: The Road to Mommy Wellness" held at the DRSTMH OPD Lobby last September 25, 2024. During the program, Dr. Leilanie Barrios, HACT Chairman, reminded the attendees of the importance of HIV testing during pregnancy. Thirty-nine pregnant women availed of the free HIV testing which was held simultaneously with the program. This initiatives is one of our testing modality to prevent the transmission of HIV from Mother to Child.

HANTOP stands for HIV AIDS Neutral status & Treatment Of the Province of Aklan. HANTOP is an Akeanon word that means “whole heartedly” as we put our efforts whole heartedly in our Province HIV Advocacy and Service Delivery.

This rebranding strategy is timely and especially important now to reduce the increasing number of new HIV Infection in the Province by closing the gaps brought by Stigma along the HIV Prevention and care continuum. Eliminating stigma in the delivery of HIV services will lead to an increase in HIV awareness and advocacy in the community leading to a community-led response which is essential to ending HIV/AIDS epidemic.

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As we embark on this momentous occasion, we are excited to introduce HANTOP WELLNESS CENTER AKLAN a healthcare facility dedicated to providing comprehensive and compassionate care to individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. The clinic aims to be a hub of excellence in the field, offering cutting-edge medical services, support programs, and awareness campaigns to contribute to the global effort to combat HIV/AIDS.

Each year, on 1 December, the world commemorates World AIDS Day. People around the world unite to show support for people living with HIV and to remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses.

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Today's World Aids Day Local theme "Communities to Lead in the HIV and AIDS Response" 

highlight that to unleash the full potential of community leadership to enable the end of AIDS:

• Communities’ leadership roles need to be made core in all HIV plans and programmes and in their formulation, budgeting, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. “Nothing about us without us.”

• Communities’ leadership roles need to be fully and reliably funded to enable the required scale up and be properly supported and remunerated. “Not ending AIDS is more expensive than ending it.”

• Barriers to communities’ leadership roles need to be removed. An enabling regulatory environment is needed which facilitates communities’ role in provision of HIV services, ensures civil society space, and protects the human rights of all, including of marginalized communities, to advance the global HIV response. “Remove laws that harm, create laws that empower.”

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