A health expert today praised the Church for the way in which it is helping patients with HIV/Aids, but criticized its stand on preventing the disease’s spread.

“The Church, especially the nuns, has been especially supportive,” said Dr. Ofelia Monzon, founding president of the AIDS Society of the Philippines, adding that Church people have been a big help in counseling people with HIV.

She was speaking at a media seminar called Reducing Stigma and Discrimination Surrounding HIV and AIDS.

However, Dr. Monzon said the Catholic Church’s stand against the use of condoms has “hindered” the campaign against the spread of the HIV virus.

“We had talks with the bishops [about condom use] but it seems to have had no effect,” she said.

“We need to respect the beliefs of different religions… [but] we have the obligation to say that condoms can reduce the spread of HIV,” Monzon added.

Despite this, deputy health secretary Dr. Eric Tayag said the Church can still be of help in fighting the spread of the virus.

He said he expects the number to increase significantly before the term of President Benigno Aquino ends in 2016.

He also tried to water down expectations the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill would check the spread of HIV/AIDs.

Those who claim the bill will slow down the spread of HIV and AIDS are “not being factual,” Dr. Tayag said.

The best way to curb the spread of HIV, the health official said, is by educating people about the virus, he said.

The proposed bill “alone… cannot eradicate the problem,” he added.

PM14274