20 February 1997
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER
No. 2 series of 1997
NATIONAL POLICY GUIDELINES FOR THE PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT
OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES (STDs)
The Department of Health,
taking the lead in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Philippines has
established the National AIDS Prevention and Control Program in August
1988. By virtue of Administrative Order No. 57–A s. 1989, the 12 policy
statements for the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in the Philippines were
ratified to become the basis for national strategies in the fight against the
AIDS disease in the country.
Recognizing the strong
association of STDs in the transmission of HIV, the National STD Control
Program was integrated into the National AIDS Prevention and Control Program in
1994. Both programs are now being implemented with complementing strategies and
approaches. STD case management is one complementary strategy in preventing HIV
transmission and shall always include diagnosis made according to the resources
available, effective treatment based on the national recommendations, education
and counseling on treatment compliance and risk reduction including condom
promotion and encouragement to notify sexual partners.
In consideration of the
HIV and STD epidemiological situations in the Philippines and the experiences
gained by the Department since the establishment of the National AIDS
Prevention and Control Program in 1988, the 12 policy statements were revised. Administrative
Order No. 7–C s. 1995 was then issued to revise the policy statements
contained in Administrative Order No. 57–A s. 1989. The revised policy
guidelines will complement the existing and future strategic planning documents
of the National AIDS/STD Prevention and Control Program.
1. AIDS/STD
prevention and control program shall be implemented in all levels of STD
service facilities.
2. Acceptable,
affordable and effective case management of patients with STD shall be made
accessible to all individuals through the general health care system including
Maternal and Child Health Services (MCHS), Family Planning (FP) and other
medical services, whenever possible.
3. Syndromic
management, which includes diagnosis based on recognizable groups of signs and
symptoms and provision of treatment against the majority of organisms producing
the syndrome, shall be applied when and where reliable laboratory diagnostic
support is not consistently available.
4. Designated
referral sites with appropriate laboratory support to STD diagnosis shall be
made available at least on a regional level.
5. The role of
Social Hygiene Clinics shall be expanded to provide STD services not only for
special populations but also for the general community, and where appropriate,
provide services to referral from other levels of health care system.
6. The promotion of
STD health–seeking behavior, as a priority, shall be included in the local or
national HIV/STD plans.
7. Drugs used for
STD management shall be in accordance with the updated STD Treatment Guidelines
of the Department.
8. The Department of
Health in collaboration with the local government units shall ensure that
doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and other health care workers both
hospital and community based, receive appropriate training on STD case
management.
9. The existing
reporting system for STD surveillance shall be strengthened and be made
culturally appropriate in collaboration with the local government units and
other health–related agencies.
10. Operational research necessary to the performance of
the National AIDS/STD Prevention and Control Program, including microbiological
surveys, shall be coordinated by the AIDS/STD Unit. NASPCP shall see to it that
significant results shall be disseminated and acted upon appropriately.
11. The program shall encourage case findings in
vulnerable populations e.g. registered and unregistered sex workers and
asymptomatic patients at increased risk of infection. Routine testing for
syphilis among pregnant women shall be encouraged at all health care facilities
such as hospital, primary health care centers, etc. and where resources can be
made available should be free of charge
Specific guidelines to
implement the above policies shall be formulated and widely disseminated
through the AIDS/STD Unit to all programs and services
involved in the prevention and control of STD in the Philippines.
This order shall take
effect immediately.
CARMENCITA NORIEGA–REODICA,
MD, MPH, CESO II
Secretary of Health
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