SHIP

Last April 23 to May 4, 2024, the Department of Health, Western Visayas Center for Health Development and our PROTECTS UPSCALE teams conducting a series of meetings among the Provincial Health Offices, City Health Offices, and HIV partner stakeholders of Iloilo City, Iloilo Province, Negros Occidental, Bacolod City, Aklan, and Capiz, creating venues for consultation and collaboration between the project teams, stakeholders, and government units.

Among the many highlights of these engagements was the meeting with the Regional Director of the DOH Western Visayas Center for Health Development, Dr. Adriano Suba-an, who welcomed the PROTECTS UPSCALE project in his region and further discussed the technology to support and follow the activities of the CHD programs, especially for HIV. Of note also were the meetings with the CHD HIV coordinators and partners to discuss various concerns about the program, particularly the deployment of the field staff in their respective areas.

With these activities of the Department of Health, Western Visayas Center for Health Development, the government and community stakeholders, and the PROTECTS UPSCALE teams, we’ll be sure to have strengthened implementation of the AIDS and STI Prevention and Control Program and greater successes on HIV testing, prevention, and treatment across the nation.

In its commitment to offering person-centered care, SHIP’s PsySE-SDN (Psycho-socioeconomic Service Delivery Network) Co-Design Workshop was conducted last May 13, 2024, at the Hive Hotel & Convention Place, Quezon City.

The Co-Design Workshop successfully started PsySe-SDN program by gathering and engaging key stakeholders, community representatives, and mental health & social welfare professionals in consultation and close collaboration, all aimed to help develop training curriculum for providing psycho-socioeconomic (PsySE) support for people living with HIV.

SHIP’s Executive Director Jerome Daclison lead the workshop, with Medical Director Dr. Kate Leyritana offering her welcome remarks to the workshop participants, and Project Manager Rod Olete providing the background into the PsySE-SDN program. A desk review of best practices in mental health and social welfare services in HIV was also conducted by Mental Health Trainer Jolina Capadocia, RPm.

In attendance were representatives from the Department of Health, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, UNAIDS Philippines, USAID Renewhealth, CSWD Antipolo, San Lazaro Hospital, Association of Positive Women Advocates Inc. (APWAI), Gabay sa Pulang Laso, HIV & AIDS Support House (HASH), Kababaihan sa Pagbangon at Pagbabago (KPP), and Positive Elders of the Philippines (PELP). Together the participants and the PsySE-SDN team delved into the needs in the existing frameworks for the care and overall well-being of people living with HIV, and designed recommendations for the differentiated delivery strategies and interdisciplinary collaboration, as well as recommendations for the development of trainers, content, and curriculum of the program.

Following this co-design workshop, SHIP and PsySE-SDN, along with their stakeholders, would soon further develop the training curriculum and modules for mental health and social welfare professionals, provide the capacity-building of a pilot batch of these professionals, and help establish and integrate the service delivery network in high HIV-burdened areas across the country.