Which should have priority: fighting AIDS or pushing medical tourism?

June 30 was a total high for me. Although I watched the inaugural rites only on television, I was in awe and proud to be a Filipino. And hopeful that finally righteousness will reign in our country. I know in my heart that integrity, courage and loyalty to God and country are the criteria in President Noynoy Aquino’s choice of Cabinet members. I believe they are men of moral (New Testament) values. We should all do our share in making President Aquino’s governance participative and shield the President’s men with prayers to protect them and to prevent them from detouring into the dark path.

There is one concern that bothers me, though, and that is the President’s priority in health. Should we fight the spread of AIDS where we cannot gain financially, or should we increase our revenue through medical tourism?

Through the latter, we can entice patients from other countries to come to the Philippines for renal transplants. Where shall we find the kidney donors? From “taong graza”?

With her exposure to Haven for Women and having been social welfare secretary, Dr. Esperanza Cabral knows the extent and seriousness of the HIV/AIDS problem in our country. As a new specialist, I know the danger of those still to be born of mothers with AIDS.

AIDS is spreading among those who have less in life and find comfort in unsafe intercourse to “ease” the pain of poverty through a minute of pleasure, unmindful that it could mean a shorter lifetime of pain and misery. Can we stop them? We have to pause and listen to Cabral speak about the risks and dangers of spreading the disease. In the long run it will affect us financially because people with AIDS will be a burden to our society in terms of moral deterioration and financial losses.

Let us teach the children and adults the anatomy of the body, the pharmacology and actions of contraceptives, the process of reproduction, the dangers of spreading sexually transmitted diseases and the manufacture of condoms.

Include the bishops and priests. These added knowledge will hopefully make them loyal and committed to their vow of celibacy.

In teaching, consider the psychological stages of the child, the psychology of deprived/unfulfilled men and the reason why women choose to be financially maintained by immoral men. We need the entire Department of Health to do what Cabral is advocating.

I know that the statistics on successful renal transplant at the Kidney Center is excellent and that Dr. Enrique Ona is a very competent surgeon. I hope that preventing renal function deterioration will be the first in his agenda. I know that renal transplants extend the lives of those whose kidneys are at its functional end. I know that hospitals other than the Kidney Institute have good records too as far as renal transplants are concerned. Transplants are going on. Do we need the entire DOH to make medical tourism a success?

—PURA FLOR D. ISLETA, MD,
pfdi@hotmail.com