THE first public sundown clinic that will specifically serve the needs of male having sex with male (MSM) and transgender will be open to the public in Iloilo City on October 3.
Doctor Ma. Odeta Villaruel, sexually transmitted diseases program coordinator, said the Iloilo City Social Hygiene Clinic, together with the Department of Health (DOH) regional office, establish the sundown clinic intended to provide STI and HIV prevention, testing and treatment services to MSM and transgender people.
Selected social hygiene clinic personnel will extend services from 5 to 11 p.m. five days a week excluding holidays. These hours are customized for clients based on what worked better for their schedule.
The 5/11 Klinika Ilonggo along Tanza St., city proper offers STI screening, HIV testing, STI, HIV, Aids counseling, and condoms and lubricants to clients.
Villaruel said with the increasing cases of HIV among MSM, there is a need for the health facilities, particularly the social hygiene clinic to rebrand and give a new image in order to make it more attractive and an MSM and transgender-friendly facility.
The country has been experiencing an upsurge in HIV infections in the last three years. According to the Integrated HIV Behavioral and Serological Surveillance conducted by the DOH-National Epidemiology Center, the country’s new HIV infections were occurring in males, particularly males having sex with male.
