The Davao City council is pushing for proxy consent for minors who want to seek treatment from HIV-AIDs infection.
Councilor Mary Joselle Dilig-Villafuerte said that they are now working for an ordinance that would mandate proxy consent, allowing doctors or health doctors to seek for the treatment of a child or minor without seeking the consent of parents “There are young people who want to seek treatment, but Philippine law requires those below 18 years old to get written parental consent before they can access HIV testing and treatment services,” said Villafuerte.
“We have children that engaging to sex at early ages and families or parents are not aware,” said Villafuerte.
“We cannot undergo health treatment without the knowledge of their parents or guardians but we are pushing this one to consult a professional doctor or a sex worker to address the concern of the minor,” said Villafuerte.
Villafuerte said that Mayor Inday Duterte is giving the City Council full support for a legislative measure mandating proxy consent for minors.
Villafuerte said Davao City is one of the fastest-growing rates of HIV infection in the Region XI.
According to the Department of Health Epidemiology Bureau, there are now 26 newly diagnosed cases of HIV.
This brings the total to 1,850 asymptomatic and 230 HIV/AIDS fully-developed cases from 1984 to present.
Aside from HIV cases here in Davao City also have one big problem which teenage pregnancy which is more on Talomo north and south.
“To our teenager engaging to premarital sex engages with multiple sexual partners we can undergo them into counseling so that we can convince them to use protection and practice safe sex after learning about it from peer educators and other sex workers,” she said.
Villafuerte said that City Council allocated a budget of 3M for HIV programs. She is encouraging young people to access these programs and services.
“The city also provide free HIV testing services and has its own treatment hub with adolescent-friendly facilities with the staff trained to handle reproductive health, family planning and HIV services for young people, where people living with HIV receive special care,” she said.
