RITM, through its AIDS Research Group (ARG) and in partnership with various HIV treatment hubs, conducted the online panel discussion about HIV and antiretroviral therapy called ARG Collaborative Conversations 2022: Addressing the Effect of COVID-19 on Linkage and Continuum of Care on May 26, 2022. 

Broadcasted live through the ARG Clinic Facebook page and the official RITM Facebook page for the first time, the online panel discussion is part of ARG’s longtime program, Learning Group Sessions (LGS), which aims to provide lectures to HIV patients and their families that will help them gain more knowledge about HIV and other various health topics. 

 “This is one of the ways for us to help one another and all the Treatment Hubs in the Philippines so that we can all provide comprehensive and effective patient care for our clients who have HIV, “ says Dr. Mark Kristoffer Pasayan, Head of ARG Clinic and Chair of the HIV and AIDS Core Team (HACT).

 The live discussion touched on many topics such as HIV cases, anti-retroviral therapy adherence issues, COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines, sexually-transmitted infections, TB & other opportunistic infections, pre-exposure/post-exposure prophylaxis, U=U campaign, support to the PLHIV’s, and the stigma and discrimination that PLHIVs suffer with.

A video tribute was also played before the event as part of the efforts to commemorate the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial on May 16 and remember the people we lost to HIV/AIDS; and honor the many health and allied professionals working towards ending the global HIV pandemic.     

 You may watch the online panel discussion here: ARG Collaborative Conversations 2022

by Anel Azel Dimaano