This was a talk for ALSWDOPI 2019 at Waterfront Hotel where LGU social workers are challenged to become the government employees who are catalysts of change that the Philippine society needs to address the Philippine HIV epidemic.

1. Emerging Issues and
Challenges for LSWDOs in
dealing with Persons Living
with HIV/AIDS (PLHIVs)
Helen V. Madamba, MD MPH-TM FPOGS FPIDSOG
April 23, 2019

16. DOH-Designated HIV Treatment Hubs
and Primary HIV Care Facilities
•Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center
•Visayas Community Medical Center
•Eversley Childs Sanitarium and General
Hospital
•Talisay District Hospital
•Cebu City Social Hygiene Clinic
•Mandaue City Social Hygiene Clinic
•Talisay City Social Hygiene Clinic

17. PLHIV in Central Visayas
• As of Jan 2019, there are 2,020 PLHIV alive on ART*
• 5,683 diagnosed PLHIV cases in Central Visayas since 1984
• 5,683-2,020/5,683 = 64.5% lost to follow up

20. Social stigma,
homophobia and lack
of education cause
PLHIVs to feel like
outcasts in their own
families and
communities.
Joe Vanny Perez, LMSW. Social Work in an HIV/AIDS Clinic at https://www.socialworker.com/feature-articles/practice/Social_Work_in_an_HIV-AIDS_Clinic/

21. Understanding the Role of Social Work
Social workers are responsible for helping
individuals, families, and groups of people to
cope with problems they’re facing to improve
their patients’ lives.
One aspect of this is teaching skills and
developing mechanisms for patients to rely on
to better their lives and experiences.
Understanding the Role of a Social Worker at https://mswonlineprograms.org/job-duties-and-responsibilities-of-social-workers/

22. Understanding the Role of Social Work
Social workers will often serve as liaisons
between different institutions to assist
patients and collaborate with other health
professionals to ensure patient wellness.
Social work can be the kind of job that requires a great deal
of overtime, and separating the emotional aspects of the job
from the duties required can be a difficult undertaking.
Understanding the Role of a Social Worker at https://mswonlineprograms.org/job-duties-and-responsibilities-of-social-workers/

23. Skills of a Social Worker
• Active Listening
• Social Perceptiveness
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Coordination
•Reading Comprehension
•Service Orientation
•Writing
•Complex Problem Solving
•Judgment and Decision
Making
Understanding the Role of a Social Worker at https://mswonlineprograms.org/job-duties-and-responsibilities-of-social-workers/

24. Specializations of a Social Worker
•Family, child or school social work
•Public health social workers
•Addictions and mental health social
workers
Understanding the Role of a Social Worker at https://mswonlineprograms.org/job-duties-and-responsibilities-of-social-workers/

25. Duties of a Social Worker
• Collaborate with other professionals to evaluate
patients’ medical or physical condition and to assess
client needs.
• Advocate for clients or patients to resolve crises.
• Refer patient, client, or family to community resources
to assist in recovery from mental or physical illness
and to provide access to services such as financial
assistance, legal aid, housing, job placement or
education. or patient.
Understanding the Role of a Social Worker at https://mswonlineprograms.org/job-duties-and-responsibilities-of-social-workers/

26. Duties of a Social Worker
• Investigate child abuse or neglect cases and take
authorized protective action when necessary.
• Counsel clients and patients in individual and group
sessions to help them overcome dependencies,
recover from illness, and adjust to life.
• Plan discharge from care facility to home or other
care facility.
Understanding the Role of a Social Worker at https://mswonlineprograms.org/job-duties-and-responsibilities-of-social-workers/

27. Duties of a Social Worker
• Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress
according to measurable goals described in
treatment and care plan.
• Identify environmental impediments to client or
patient progress through interviews and review of
patient records.
• Organize support groups or counsel family members
to assist them in understanding, dealing with, and
supporting the client or patient.
Understanding the Role of a Social Worker at https://mswonlineprograms.org/job-duties-and-responsibilities-of-social-workers/

28. When working with people living with HIV/AIDS,
social workers need to be aware of:
• Local HIV/AIDS support groups and community-based
organizations.
• Cultural sensitivity and unconscious biases.
• Drug and alcohol abuse and the role it plays in
HIV infection.
• Safer-sex practices and awareness.
• Multidisciplinary teams and the importance of
communication between medical professionals, social
workers and other team members.
The Role of Social Workers in HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment at https://mswcareers.com/social-workers-hiv-aids-prevention-treatment/

33. Emerging Issues and
Challenges for LSWDOs in
dealing with Persons Living
with HIV/AIDS (PLHIVs)
Helen V. Madamba, MD MPH-TM FPOGS FPIDSOG
April 23, 2019