13 April 1992
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER
No. 121 series 1992
POLICIES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL HIV/AIDS
SENTINEL SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES
To track the spread of HIV
infection among different sentinel groups so that necessary interventions can
be instituted, a national HIV/AIDS sentinel surveillance system shall be
established. The following policies shall guide the conduct of HIV/AIDS surveillance
activities in the country.
1. The incidence of
AIDS in the Philippines shall be monitories through the establishment of a
national sentinel surveillance system that will involve periodic HIV –testing
of identified sentinel groups at selected sentinel sites.
2. HIV/AIDS
surveillance activities shall be part of the National AIDS Prevention and
Control Program which is implemented under the over–all supervision of the
Secretary of Health.
3. Strict adherence
to specific methodology that includes the type of test/testing kit, technical
proficiency and management of information shall be maintained. This shall be
determined by a technical group based on an ongoing assessment of prevailing
local conditions. Guidelines for this purpose shall be issued, distributed and
updated from time to time.
4. Technical
performance of all units involved shall continuously be assessed.
5. Technical aspects
related to epidemiology shall be the responsibility of the Health Intelligence
Service and those that are related to HIV–testing shall be the responsibility
of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.
6. Selection of
specific collection sites and testing laboratories shall be the responsibility
of a technical group composed of representatives from the Research Institute
for Tropical Medicine, Health Intelligence Service, Bureau of Research and
Laboratories, DOH–AIDS Unit and other institutions whose participation may be
deemed necessary.
7. Testing
laboratories shall include those of regional hospitals and medical centers supervised
by the Bureau of Research and Laboratories and other appropriate laboratories
that may be identified.
8. Information
derived from the surveillance data shall be utilized in the formulation of
specific measures directed towards the prevention and control of AIDS in the
Philippines.
This
order shall take effect immediately.
ANTONIO
O. PERIQUET, M.D.
Secretary
of Health
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