CSJDM brings HIV services to the streets through mobile clinics

written by Edgar Bagasol Jr.

The City of San Jose del Monte (CSJDM) in Bulacan ramps up their strategy to make HIV services more accessible to people through mobile clinics. Dubbed “Safe Love ON THE GO,” CSJDM plans to launch the country’s first mobile HIV clinics this March 2021.

Safe Love ON THE GO mobile clinic is a vehicle equipped with HIV and STI services that can travel around the city and remote areas. According to CSJDM HIV Coordinator Daniel Mangahas, the use of mobile clinics are responsive to the ongoing pandemic which limited people’s access to HIV and STI prevention, testing, and treatment services.

“Although, medyo relaxed na yung quarantine, and dami pa ring KP [(key populations]) ang nahihirapang mag-access ng mga HIV services. So our mobile clinics are our response para madala namin ang serbisyo sa kanila instead of them going to our facilities,” (Although the quarantine has relaxed a bit, many KPs still find difficulty in accessing HIV services. So our mobile clinics are our response so we can provide the service to them instead of them going to our facilities) Mangahas expressed.

Aside from the convenience, Mangahas said that their mobile clinics will help them better ensure the safety of their staff and the confidentiality of their clients. He specifically pointed out that whenever they do outreach programs at night in cruising spots, clients’ confidentiality is sometimes compromised. This is also one of the reasons why the local government unit of CSJDM has pushed for the mobile clinics to deliver HIV services to key populations safely and discretely.

A team of peer educators and health staff are assigned to each of their two mobile clinics who will be responsible for conducting the services.

According to Mangahas, the mobile clinic is designed like a moving one-stop-shop. They even incorporated a telehealth system in the vehicle so that clients can remotely consult with a Doctor about their HIV/STI concerns. Clients can also get condoms, lubricants, and even refill their antiretroviral (ARV) medications from the mobile clinic.

The mobile clinics will also help in bringing the services closer to the communities in the city. “Most of our KPs here are MSM and youth, and it’s been a struggle reaching them,” Mangahas underscored, adding that many of these sectors are scared to pay a visit to an HIV-service facility because of social stigma, among many other unspoken reasons.

With this initiative, the city with the leadership of Mangahas hopes to reach more KPs, especially in remote areas, and provide them regular access to HIV and STI services. To do this, the city will utilize their networks in “clans” (online groups of KPs) and will engage local barangays in the promotion and conduct of the service.