Although the incidence of HIV/AIDS transmission related from needle prick
injuries (example tattooing) account for less than 1% of transmission, more
equally important are other blood borne infections such as syphilis,
hepatitis B and C, tetanus and HIV/AIDS which carries a higher risk. Access to
information on HIV/AIDS and other related blood borne infections in the
Philippines for tattoo and body piercing artists are not readily available and
this initiative has paved way the development of the first guidebook on the said topic.
Initial consultations were done in March 2001 with the Department of Heath
Philippine National AIDS council (PNAC) and the Philippine Tattoo Artists
Guild (PHILTAG) on how this initiative will take place. A guiding framework
was developed as to how the content of the guidebook be presented.
Consultant team includes Dr Jose NMC Sescon and Ms Nenet Ortega as Editorial
Consultants, Dr Nerissa Isabel Sescon - Fellow , Infectious Disease and Dr
Lilia Reyes DPOGS served as the technical writers assisted by Ms Lina Sagaral
Reyes as the Head writer.
A series of literature reviews, meetings consultations and FGDs were conducted
by the writers team among key stakeholders for the content to end with a
critiquing of the draft and a consultation workshop with PNAC, PHILTAG and the
Department of Health Environmental and Occupational Health Office.
Interested parties may contact RAF and avail the said manual at USD 5.00
(except postage cost).
