Quezon City and UNAIDS launch online & mobile-based platform to fight HIV

QUEZON CITY, 27 May (PIA)–The Quezon City Government in cooperation with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in the Philippines launched an online and mobile-based platform QC iReport that will be used to provide the city with real time information on its Human Immuno Virus related services.

The platform will also be used to enable health facilities to deliver quality services that respond to the needs of key populations.

The iReport will also serve as feedback mechanism on the various health services to people and facilities offered by the City Health facilities.

The mobile health platform not only focuses on the HIV/ AIDS but on the many services provided by the Quezon City Health Department.

“As we continue to improve our client centered services in all local health facilities, the QC iReport will help us use technology as a platform for feedback mechanism, and this is another innovative strategy by our city,” Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista said.

Earlier, the Quezon City Government and the UNAIDS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which aims to accelerate and expand the city’s response to HIV and end its AIDS epidemic by 20130.

Guided by the 2011 United Nations General Assembly Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) “Cities getting to zero” initiative, the MoU promotes fast-tracking locally relevant and led strategies to rapidly reduce the number of new HIV infections, end AIDS-related deaths and curb stigma and discrimination in the city.

UNAIDS Country Director Teresita Marie Bagasao said that the project reconfirms the UNAIDS commitment to help the Quezon City Government in accessing universal health services to a greater public.

“Quezon City continues to be a transformative force in ending the AIDS epidemic in the country, inspiring other cities to strengthen their AIDS response and leave no constituency behind,” the UNAIDS Director said.

“This agreement supports the momentum to fast track the HIV response in the city through innovation, stronger collaboration with partners and accountability to demonstrate outcomes,” she added.

In his response, Bautista explained that critical to creating more health responses to the QC public was strengthening the health organization through the local government’s rationalization plan.

The objective, he said is to transform the City Health Department into a 21st-century organization so that it can effectively respond to 21st century challenges.

Quezon City became the first local government to open a sundown clinic called Klinika Bernardo, which caters to the sexual needs of men with men and transgender people.

Bautista said the establishment of Klinika Bernardo is an innovative strategy in providing health services based on what key populations need.

Quezon City, the country’s most populous city has been classified by the Department of Health as one of the 36 priority areas for accelerated HIV interventions. It was the first local government to include HIV among its top health concerns, and became the model for other cities on how to implement programmes prioritizing HIV treatment and prevention. (QC PAISO/RJB/SDSL/PIA-NCR)

– See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/231432607566/quezon-city-and-unaids-launch-online-mobile-based-platform-to-fight-hiv#sthash.1OTBXQEZ.dpuf