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Friday, March 29, 2024

DOH backs HIV/AIDS literacy campaign

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The Department of Health has affirmed its partnership with the “FREE TO BE U” campaign that promotes healthy behaviors to protect Filipinos from the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

“We are thankful to the DOH for showing their strong support for People Living with HIV (PLHIV) by partnering with the FREE TO BE U campaign during this Festival of Luv event. The inclusion of Free to Be U in DOH’s comprehensive health education campaign Healthy Pilipinas is a major milestone that brings the country closer to the global goal of ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030,” said Teresita Marie Bagasao, Project Director of EpiC Philippines.

The FREE TO BE U campaign, which was launched by EpiC Philippines in 2022, seeks to empower PLHIVs to break free from labels and be free to enjoy life and love by providing information about available HIV prevention and treatment services, building up safe spaces and communities, and working with organizations and advocates in order to reduce stigma and promote free HIV services.

EpiC Philippines, as part of a global project dedicated to achieving HIV epidemic control, is supported by the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the United States Agency for International Development.

“With this campaign partnership we call #FreeToBeU para sa isang #HealthyPilipinas, we hope to reach more members of the PLHIV community and those who may need protection from contracting the virus, and provide them with the necessary education and resources to lead healthy and full lives,” Bagasao said.

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“The DOH is an essential partner in our efforts to strengthen HIV service delivery in the country, which includes distributing the United States-donated HIV preventive 3 drugs PrEP and HIV viral load cartridges to the various government and community facilities throughout the country,” she added

The Festival of Luv campaign aims to make health literacy fun and sexy through concessionaire setups and performances from the winners of Drag Den and Drag Race Philippines at a pop up booth in Katipunan, Quezon City.

The local government of Quezon City likewise provided HIV testing, counseling for HIV, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Similarly, a forum was also held by medical experts, advocates, and key resource persons who shared the latest updates, efforts, and pieces of advice to control the HIV epidemic in the country as well as for their journey towards being “U Equals U” or Undetectable Equals Untransmittable.

To date, the Philippines still has one of the fastest rising numbers of HIV cases in the Asia Pacific region. As of November 2022, epidemiology data shows there is an average of (42) HIV cases per day in the country.

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