Nenita L. Ortega, RMT MA
President, Kaagapay Support Group
Clinic Manager, Remedios AIDS Foundation

EMBALMING CADAVER OF PEOPLE WHO DIED WITH AIDS:
THE PHILIPPINE EXPERIENCE

ISSUES:

• Choice to have a decent burial
• Guidelines on proper disposal of cadavers of PWAs does not exist.

METHODOLOGY:

• Embalmers should practice standard precaution at all times.
• Four cadaver of PWAs have been embalmed.

PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED:

• Almost all funeral parlor are not informed about the existing AIDS law (RA 8504)
• Also almost all the hospitals, government and private do not entertain the idea of embalming instead they cremate the cadaver immediately.

CONCLUSION:

• Disseminate that decent burial among PWAs is possible among funeral parlor.
• Proper training among embalmers to ensure protection in handling HIV/AIDS and other blood and airborne infections.
• Education about HIV/AIDS is a must among embalmers and funeral parlor owners.