Pool of trainors from the Department of Health, Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC), and Department of Education-Health and Nutrition Center (DepEd-HNC) conducted the Training of Trainors on Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Education and Prevention in the Workplace on September 25-27 at RELC, Region X, Cagayan de Oro City.
Participants from the City Division of Malaybalay were Lou-Ann J. Cultura (EPS in MAPEH), Jasmin J. Adriatico (EPS in ALS), Nancy L. Dequito, RN (Nurse II) and Jutchel L. Nayra, DPA (Administrative Officer V).
The training was mainly conducted to develop core of trainors in the regional and division level for the implementation of HIV and AIDS Policy and Program in the Workplace and come up with an Action Plan for 2013-2014 consistent to DepEd Order Nos. 45 and 47, s. 2012.
According to the trainors, this is part of the AIDS Medium-Term Plan (AMTP) of the PNAC which the DepEd with 16 other government agencies and 9 non-government and professional organizations are core members. The need to provide the workforce accurate information on HIV and AIDS, equip them with the correct knowledge to prevent and avoid it, distinguish fact from falsehood, encourage them to practice health-seeking behaviours and seek treatment, and lessen the stigma and discrimination associated with the disease are some of the underlying principles of this training.
The DepEd, as a core member, supports the realization of a unified goal in resolving the issue for national development. The DepEd HIV and AIDS Policy and Program in the Workplace, embodied in DepEd Order No. 45, s. 2012, derives its mandate from Republic Act No. 8504 also known as “The Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998” and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) adopted in 1999. It is also guided by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Announcement No. 21, s. 2010 entitled “Guidelines in the Implementation of Workplace Policy and Education Program on HIV and AIDS” for all government agencies.
The trainors emphasized the significant role of DepEd in HIV and AIDS Education and
Prevention. Significant learning was acquired from the seven interesting modules of the Basic STI, HIV, and AIDS Education Module-Trainer’s Guide. These include the Rationale for HIV and AIDS Education Prevention (Module 1), Republic Act No. 8504 “Philippine HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Act” (Module 2), Gender, Sex, Sexuality, and Reproductive Health (Module 3), The Basics of STI, HIV, and AIDS (Module 4), The Impact of HIV and AIDS (Module 5), The Country Response (Module 6), and Challenges to the Country Response (Module 7). Other topics include discussions on the PhilHealth Circular No. 19, s. 2010, DepEd Order No. 45, s. 2012, and Protocol for HIV and AIDS in the DepEd. Part of the training includes individual return lecture-demonstration, action planning for implementation at the regional and division level, and reporting.
The training ended with a commitment of the new set of trainors to implement the same in their respective region and divisions. In Malaybalay City Division, SDS Edilberto L. Oplenaria announced and professed support in the implementation of the DepEd HIV and AIDS Policy and Program in the Workplace during the Division-wide World Teacher’s Day Celebration on October 5, 2013 at BNHS, Malaybalay City. Consequently, he issued Division Memorandum No. 293, s. 2013 entitled Designation of Division HIV and AIDS Education and Prevention Training Team and Technical Working Group (TWG). He also approved the Division Action Plan for SY 2013-2014 on October 11, 2013 for implementation. This Office further conforms to the submission of an annual report on the status of the implementation to the DepEd through the HNC to the CSC, copy furnished to the PNAC Secretariat Monitoring and Evaluation, no later than January 15 of the following year as required in DepEd Order No. 45, s. 2012.