QC to offer text counseling for MSM

A counseling service through SMS for MSM who are at risk for HIV.

The Quezon City government will launch next month a mobile phone-based counseling service for persons who are highly vulnerable to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), particularly men having sex with men (MSM).

The TextDUDE campaign is expected to kick off in August with trained counselors, mostly from the local health department, receiving and answering questions sent via text or Short Message Service (SMS).

Texters will receive advice, information or counseling regarding HIV infection which could lead to AIDS or acquired immune deficiency syndrome as well as at-risk behaviors. All information will be treated with confidentiality.

TextDUDE will more specifically cater to individuals with a high risk of exposure to HIV, specifically MSM who are active in dating and social networking websites.

Quezon City was chosen by the Philippine NGO Support Program Inc. and the Philippine National AIDS Council as the pilot site for its TextDUDE campaign as part of the international People Like Us Response Project.

Based on the HIV registry of the Quezon City health department, 226 of the 3,879 HIV cases which were reported between January and December last year were from the city. All of the 226 cases involved MSM.

Further study conducted by the city health department on the reported cases showed that on the average, five out of 100 MSM contracted HIV.

Apart from the TextDUDE initiative, the Quezon City health department has been working on managing and preventing HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases through the establishment of an STD/ HIV/AIDS council, social hygiene clinics as well as a counseling and outreach programs for people who test positive for HIV.

It has also been conducting HIV/AIDS awareness seminars for occupational permit and health certificate applicants in addition to implementing a Peer Education Movement which aims to educate people about these diseases.