HIV services within reach of Dinagat Islands residents
By Renelle L. Escuadro
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — In fulfillment of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s mandate on healthcare for all, the Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) Caraga, through the Dinagat District Hospital Wellness Clinic, made HIV education, prevention, testing, medication, and support within reach in the Dinagat Islands.
With 53 reported human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases in the province as of December 2025, the facility located in Barangay Escolta, Dinagat town, served as a trusted and convenient hub for people living with HIV (PLHIV) and individuals with risk behaviors.
According to the DOH-CHD Caraga, with the increasing statistics of PLHIV in the province, having a treatment center in the area will strengthen the advocacy and programs of the government on HIV.
Operational since September 2025, it encourages the public to promote awareness of HIV and for sexually active individuals to undergo free and regular testing because early detection saves lives. Consultation and medication are also at no cost, making HIV services accessible and convenient in the island province.
Also, the Dinagat District Hospital Wellness Clinic emphasized that results are private and confidential. “For those who wish to transfer their treatment and be close to their loved ones, the facility warmly welcomes you, especially to PLHIV in the province. You no longer need to travel far and spend more time and effort because the clinic is here to serve you with sincerity, trust, and strict confidentiality.”
It further shared a historic milestone as the first in the province to receive an accreditation certificate on Outpatient HIV/AIDS Treatment (OHAT) from PhilHealth, reaffirming its commitment to supporting PLHIV by providing them with increased financial access to essential healthcare through comprehensive outpatient treatment coverage for HIV and advanced HIV disease or AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome).
The enhanced OHAT package provides P58,500 in annual benefit, including antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all individuals with confirmed positive HIV test results and access to all minimum vital services necessary for effective HIV management.
According to PhilHealth, this enhancement is aligned with the President’s directive, during his 2nd State of the Nation Address, to continually improve and sustain the state health insurer’s healthcare services. “The whole of society must exert efforts to suppress the alarming rise of tuberculosis and HIV/advanced HIV disease. To stem the tide, the strategic plan is to ensure early diagnosis and treatment, and ample testing sites and medications across the country.”
In Caraga, with currently 13 HIV treatment hubs across the region, target beneficiaries are breaking out of the stigma to get tested without fear, and more patients are conveniently availing of the government’s treatment and services, ensuring that no PLHIV is left behind. (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands with a report from Dinagat District Hospital Wellness Clinic)
