Working together for six years, Positive Action Philippines, Inc. (PAFPI) and MAC AIDS Fund (MAF) forged a partnership to bring comfort and care to people living with HIV (PLHIVs). Hence, PAFPI and the officers and staff of MAC Cosmetic Philippines, as part of MAC’s participation in the annual World AIDS Day every December 1st, went for an immersion at the H4 Ward and Outpatient Department at San Lazaro Hospital.
Rodel G. Navarra, Chief Operating Officer of PAFPI shared that the immersion started a couple of years back since 2011. However, he explained that bringing in hot meals and food packs is just one part of the immersion since what matters most is to provide HIV education to the staff of MAC and to make more people better understand the plight of PLHIVs.
Hence, 15 volunteers last November 21 while 21 volunteers last November 28 joined a talk on the sensitivities, do’s and dont’s, and proper behavior in handling PLHIV clients. PAFPI-MAC Project staff Moses Ayuha and Russell Sedino also discussed the summary of programs and deliverables for the entire project duration from January to December 2016. Other PAFPI staff Robert Lim, Stephanie Ramos, Andres De Leon and Hasmer Hamid facilitated the HIV awareness orientation.
“We are happy that Juan Marco Tantoco, PR & Marketing Brand Assistant of MAC and Ms. Gay Lao Chen, MAC’s Country coordinator were able to join the activities.” Ms. Bianca Guidotti, Bb. Pilipinas International 2014, Janelle Olafson, Ms. Global Philippines 1st Runner up, and celebrity Antoinette Taus also took part in the activities that were held at MAC’s office in Makati City and San Lazaro Hospital.
But apart from providing hot meals, Navarra explained that MAC’s dedication to the plight of PLHIVs includes support for the maintenance of the Bahay Kanlungan Drop-in Center, PhilHealth Enrollment for the unemployed and those who don’t have means to pay PhilHealth’s monthly dues, and provision of financial support for laboratory, medicines, transportation, and others.
“MAC AIDS Fund also supported our regular feeding program in Bahay Kanlungan every Friday and at San Lazaro every Monday. The feeding program also served as a means for PLHIVs, their affected families and significant others to interact and show one another a good morale boost.”
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