Atty. Adel Tamano emphasizes need to combat HIV/AIDS, urges government to make condoms readily available

“Combating HIV/AIDS is one of the MDGs. RP will be the laughing stock if we fail by 2015”

Following reports from the Department of Health (DOH) indicating a sharp increase in the number of reported HIV/AIDS cases in the country especially in the 25-34 age group, senatorial candidate Atty. Adel Tamano has urged the Philippine government to make condoms readily available especially to the poor.

“Distributing condoms is all about health services, responsibility and protection. We don’t want to become like African countries with epidemics,” the Nacionalista Party senatorial bet and spokesperson emphasized.

“Let’s not forget that combating HIV/AIDS is one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that we need to achieve by 2015. This is not a mere secondary task of the Philippine government. It is a primary task, it is something that the government promised the rest of the world to do,” Tamano explained.

“While it’s true that our country is facing so many challenges, we should remain steadfast in achieving the MDGs. We owe it to our fellow Filipinos. The Philippines will be the laughing stock if we fail by 2015,” Tamano added.

The MDGs are international development goals signed by and agreed upon by 192 United Nations-member states and at least 23 international organizations to be achieved by the year 2015. The eight goals are 1) eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, 2) achieve universal primary education, 3) promote gender equality and empowering women, 4) reduce child mortality, 5) improve maternal health, 6) combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, 7) ensure environmental sustainability and 8) develop a Global Partnership for Development.

Meanwhile, the constitutional law professor and former president of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila also lauded the Department of Labor and Employment’s plan to intensify its advocacy against HIV/AIDS.