04 January 1989
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER
No. 57–A series 1989
POLICIES FOR THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF HIV INFECTION/AIDS
IN THE PHILIPPINES
Considering the growing
threat of the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) disease to the public
health, the following policies shall become the bases for national strategies
in the fight against the AIDS disease in the country:
1. Prevention of HIV
infection/AIDS shall be the priority of the National AIDS Control Program.
2. AIDS Education
shall be integrated in existing school curricula of elementary, high school,
and college levels; implementation shall be the responsibility of the
Department of Education, Culture and Sports.
3. Communication
campaigns on HIV infection/AIDS shall be part of an information delivery system
integrated into other closely related programs.
4. To prevent HIV
transmission, protective measures such as condom usage shall be promoted for
persons with high–risk sexual behavior. These protective measures shall be made
available and widely accessible.
5. All blood donors
and blood for transfusion shall be screened for HIV.
6. No mandatory
testing shall be required except for those persons already being tested under
existing law. Persons who engage in high–risk behavior shall be encouraged to
undergo voluntary testing. Pre–testing informed consent shall be required and
post–testing counseling shall be made available.
7. Information on
the testing, counseling and care of individuals shall remain confidential.
8. For surveillance
purposes, statistics on the incidence of infection shall be maintained by the
Department of Health.
9. Infected or sick
individuals shall be referred for appropriate counseling and care. As a matter
of public policy, no person shall be subjected to quarantine or isolation.
10. Health and social assistance shall be provided to
infected and sick individuals by government and non–government organization.
11. Tourists shall not be required to undergo testing for
HIV infection unless there are medical indications for testing.
12. Visa applicants who have undergone previous testing
will be required to disclose the results of such tests upon visa application.
This order shall take
effect immediately.
ALFREDO R.A. BENGZON,
MD
Secretary of Health
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