Republic Act No.

8504: Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998

"AN ACT PROMULGATING POLICIES AND PRESCRIBING MEASURES FOR

THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF HIV/AIDS IN THE PHILIPPINES,
INSTITUTING A NATIONWIDE HIV/AIDS PROGRAM, ESTABLISHING A
COMPREHENSIVE HIV/AIDS MONITORING SYSTEM, STRENGTHENING THE
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL AIDS COUNCIL, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES"

This law was enacted to promote public awareness about HIV/AIDS. There shall be
HIV/AIDS education in schools, in the workplace, for Filipinos going abroad, for
communities and for tourists and transients.

This law is a recognition by the state of the rights of every person suspected or known to
be infected by HID/AIDS. It assured the provision of basic health and social services for
individuals with HIV as well as promotion of safety and universal precaution in practices
and procedures that carry the risk of HIV transmission..

It penalized the act of giving misleading information on HIV/AIDS prevention and

control, the act of using unsafe practices and procedures, and the act of violating medical
confidentiality.

This law will help women and men, especially those who are prostituted, to be aware of
the dangers of HIV/AIDS and help them undertake precautionary measures to protect
themselves from contracting said disease.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:
Among people living with HIV, increase the proportion who consistently
engage in behaviors that reduce risk of HIV transmission.

Among adolescents living with HIV, increase the proportion who

consistently engage in behaviors that reduce risk for transmission of
HIV, particularly among out-of-school high-risk youth.

Increase the proportion of persons living with HIV who effectively access
partner notification services.

Reduce the number of workers who are occupationally exposed to and

infected with HIV.

Increase the proportion of people at risk for HIV who are tested for STDs
and treated appropriately

Increase the number of providers who routinely provide screening in health

care settings (e.g., STD clinics, substance abuse treatment programs,
family planning clinics, emergency rooms, community health centers),
as well as voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) in non-clinical venues
(e.g., social venues, street outreach).

Support realistic and feasible evaluation efforts to ensure the delivery of

interventions at the highest possible quality.
Sexually transmitted disease
A sexually transmitted disease (STD), also known as sexually transmitted infection (STI)
or venereal disease (VD), is an illness that has a significant probability of transmission
between humans by means of human sexual behavior, including vaginal intercourse, oral
sex, and anal sex. While in the past, these illnesses have mostly been referred to as STDs
or VDs, in recent years the term sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has been
preferred, as it has a broader range of meaning; a person may be infected, and may
potentially infect others, without showing signs of disease. Some STIs can also be
transmitted via the use of IV drug needles after its use by an infected person, as well as
through childbirth or breastfeeding. Sexually transmitted infections have been well
known for hundreds of years.

Some of the things that increase a person's chances of getting an STD are:

• Sexual activity at a young age. The younger a person starts having sex, the
greater his or her chances of becoming infected with an STD.
• Lots of sex partners. People who have sexual contact — not just intercourse, but
any form of intimate activity — with many different partners are more at risk than
those who stay with the same partner.
• Unprotected sex. Latex condoms are the only form of birth control that reduce
your risk of getting an STD, and must be used every time. Spermicides,
diaphragms, and other birth control methods may help prevent pregnancy, but
they don't protect a person against STDs.

Common STDs

• Chlamydia
• Genital herpes
• Genital warts
• Gonorrhea
• Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C
• Syphilis
• As with many other diseases, prevention is the key.
It's much easier to prevent STDs than to treat
them. The only way to completely prevent STDs is to
abstain from all types of sexual contact. If someone
is going to have sex, the best way to reduce the
chance of getting an STD is by using a condom every
time.
• People who are considering having sex should get
regular gynecological or male genital examinations.
• This is true for all types of sex — oral, vaginal, and
anal. And let the doctor know if you’ve ever had any
type of sexual contact, even if it was in the past.
• Don't let embarrassment at the thought of having an
STD keep you from seeking medical attention.
Waiting to see a doctor may allow a disease to
progress and cause more damage. If you think you
may have an STD, or if you have had a partner who
may have an STD, you should see a doctor right
away.
• If you don't have a doctor or prefer not to see your
family doctor, you may be able to find a local clinic in
your area where you can get an exam confidentially.
Some national and local organizations operate STD
 hotlines staffed by trained specialists who can
answer your questions and provide referrals. Calls to
these hotlines are confidential.
• Not all infections in the genitals are caused by
STDs. Sometimes people can get symptoms that
seem very like those of STDs, even though they've
never had sex. For girls, a yeast infection can easily
be confused with an STD. Guys may worry about
bumps on the penis that turn out to be pimples or
irritated hair follicles. That's why it's important to
see a doctor if you ever have questions about your
sexual health.
• Know how many partners your partner has had. Ask
if any of their partner's have ever had an STD. You
should also provide the same information.
Remember, you not only have sex with your partner,
but also with everyone they have had sex with. The
same goes for you.
Signs and Symptoms
There are some general symptoms that both men and women can watch for as signs that
you may have a sexually transmitted disease or infection. These are:

• A general itching around your sexual organs

• Burning and pain when you go to the bathroom
• Sores, bumps or blisters near your mouth, rectum or sexual organs
• An increased need to urinate
• A sore throat
• A fever and overall aches and pains similar to the flu

For women, there are some specific signs and symptoms to be on the
lookout for:

• Pain in your pelvic area, somewhere between your belly button and your sexual
organs
• A discharge or smell from your vagina which is abnormal for you
• An pain that is deep inside of you when you have sexual relations
• A bloody discharge from your vagina when you are not having your period
• An unusual burning or itching around your sexual organs

For men, there is one specific sign and symptom to be aware of:

• A drip or discharge from your penis