MANILA, Philippines – Netizens and advocates came together on Friday, September 18, to break the silence on HIV/AIDS, as MovePH launched its #StayNegatHIVe campaign.
The Philippines has the fastest growing HIV epidemic in the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in 2015. In March 2015, the Department of Health (DOH) recorded 667 new cases, bringing the cumulative cases since 1984 up to 24,376.
Most netizens encouraged fellow Filipinos, especially the youth, to make themselves aware of the issue. Adults and teachers, however, should also be educated on the topic so they can help stop misinformation.
If a friend tells you they're positive. It means they trust you with their lives. #StayNegatHIVe#ThinkPosi+ive https://t.co/7csLL9ZhdU
— Russel Jude Mendez (@thatrussel) September 18, 2015@BoyPositibo@thepinoybabbler in the discourse of HIV, sex as taboo is the problem. Otherwise, it will FAIL @LoveYourselfPH#StayNegatHIVe
— EdgMedz (@edgmedz) September 18, 2015I don't think so as even the teachers are not fully educated about HIV and AIDS. #StayNegatHIVehttps://t.co/4byOJkaLev
— Yueh Montalbo (@MisterMontalbo) September 18, 2015@moveph how can they effectively teach something they don't know? #StayNegatHIVehttps://t.co/6Ffk9WC49z
— Yueh Montalbo (@MisterMontalbo) September 18, 2015#StayNegatHIVe I hope more teenagers will take part on this alarming national issue and participate with the discussion seriously
— MiChu (@AKAPenales) September 18, 2015@MovePH Everybody needs proper education about HIV. People are scared of what they dont know. #StayNegatHIVe#LoveYourselfPH
— Francis Dacanay (@itsjustfrancisd) September 18, 2015@MovePH start awareness and compassion at home, in your school, the office, and church! @LoveYourselfPH#StayNegatHIVe#LoveYourselfPH
— EdgMedz (@edgmedz) September 18, 2015Another issue highligted is the importance of getting tested. There is no shame in getting tested, HIV/AIDS advocacy group LoveYourself said. At the same time, one's privacy must also be respected when visiting treatment hubs.
How do you know if you are an HIV carrier? The only way to know for sure is to have yourself tested. #StayNegatHIVe…
— rick (@rickrick888) September 18, 2015Educate people more that knowing your status or getting tested is something not to be afraid of. #StayNegatHIVe
— Don Jeremiah Neri (@Mr_D_tothe_J) September 18, 2015Always know your status. Stay safe as well. Be responsible. #StayNegatHIVe
— RT Hernandez (@rt_hernandez) September 18, 2015Remember TSC - timely testing & treatment, safe & satisfying sex, and correct & consistent condom use with lube #StayNegatHIVe
— Manila Gay Guy (@mgg) September 18, 2015@MovePH although stigma is emminent for those who wants to get tested, it is still their/our responsibility to undergo one. #staynegatHIVe
— Jay Moli (@JayMoli) September 18, 2015Fighting the stigma
The biggest battles fought in the HIV/AIDS advocacy is not the disease itself but stigma, advocates said.
For a long time, HIV/AIDS has been called the "gay cancer," with many Filipinos believing that it is only lesbians, gays, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals who can acquire it. This, however, has been proven false by statistics and scientific studies.
@MovePH@LoveYourselfPh We have to end stigma/discrimination vs PLHIVs. Massive info campaign to bust myths abt HIV needed #StayNegatHIVe
— Galo Glino III (@thirdyglino) September 18, 2015.@MovePH literally ANYONE. It's NOT a gay disease. But there are measures to lessen chances of infection. #StayNegatHIVe#LoveYourselfPH
— The Pinoy Babbler (@thepinoybabbler) September 18, 2015Let us not forget that while it's important to #StayNegatHIVe, HIV & AIDS are not death sentences if properly treated. #LoveYourselfPH
— The Pinoy Babbler (@thepinoybabbler) September 18, 2015@fritzdrodriguez@AKAPenales@MovePH that's why HIV education should be all inclusive. #staynegatHIVe
— Iosif (@thepurpleman) September 18, 2015@rapplerdotcom@MovePH fighting the stigma starts w/ shedding light by providing agrssiv cmpaign in a multisectoral approach.#staynegatHIVe
— Iosif (@thepurpleman) September 18, 2015Whatever the result may be, the person needs to be loved, accepted, and supported, the netizens agreed.
@MovePH being more self-aware, there will always be room to love ourselves more, whatever the outcome is.. #StayNegatHIVe#LoveYourselfPHღ
— EdgMedz (@edgmedz) September 18, 2015@MovePH if negative then #StayNegatHIVe if positive then get treated, live a normal life and stop the spread of HIV. :) #LoveYourselfPH
— Recheer Ian Ybanez (@cheers2life) September 18, 2015@MovePH Positive or Negative? It should not matter. A status should not define a person #StayNegatHIVe
— LoveYourself Inc. (@LoveYourselfPh) September 18, 2015We don't drive them away. We stay close to them. They need us. #StayNegatHIVe
— Eduardo Rodriguez Jr (@uderodriguezjr) September 18, 2015@Mr_D_tothe_J@MovePH evidence shows scare or fear-based tactics have limited efficacy. Sex-positive approach works! #StayNegatHIVE
— Manila Gay Guy (@mgg) September 18, 2015At this stage of the epidemic, not everyone will #StayNegatHIVe. To end AIDS, we need to be inclusive & embrace PLHIVs in the convo.
— jonas bagas (@jonasbagas) September 18, 2015@MovePH Social Hygiene Clinics usually have free HIV screening services. @LoveYourselfPh, it's free too! #StayNegatHIVe
— LoveYourself Inc. (@LoveYourselfPh) September 18, 2015Institutional support
Awareness is the first step, but having a legislation and supportive government could help keep the advocacy rolling. The Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc. (PLCPD) joined the conversation, urging the government to increase its allocated budget for HIV/AIDS.
The DOH National HIV/STI Prevention Program has a 2015 budget of about P500 million ($11.21 million), 60% of which will go to the treatment of patients. But the PLCPD argued that more funds are needed.
@MattAngse@rapplerdotcom@MovePH and legislation, a key driver in the fight against stigma @LoveYourselfPH#StayNegatHIVe#LoveYourselfPHღ
— EdgMedz (@edgmedz) September 18, 2015@rapplerdotcom We need more budget. 2.3 B needed annually to end HIV, we only ask for 400 M to be provided in new AIDS law. #StayNegatHIVe
— PLCPD (@PLCPD1989) September 18, 2015DOH’s Nat’l HIV/STI Prevention Program has 2015 budget of P500M. Even WHO says more funding needed #StayNegatHIVehttps://t.co/Xq8F5o6P96
— Jee Y. Geronimo (@jeegeronimo) September 18, 2015@MovePH@PLCPD1989 remove guidance consent for minors. they have steadily rising incidence of HIV #StayNegatHIVe#LoveYourselfPH
— EdgMedz (@edgmedz) September 18, 2015@thepurpleman@edgmedz@MovePH Combatting HIV is a multi-sectoral effort. Beyond policy reforms, implementation is critical #StayNegatHIVe
— PLCPD (@PLCPD1989) September 18, 2015@edgmedz@thepurpleman@MovePH AIDS Law no longer responsive to current context. There is need to #AmendAIDSLaw#StayNegatHIVe
— PLCPD (@PLCPD1989) September 18, 2015@marcxph@MovePH@LoveYourselfPh in PH, this is against the law! report to DOLE! #StayNegatHIVe#LoveYourselfPHღ
— EdgMedz (@edgmedz) September 18, 2015@rapplerdotcom Fighting HIV/AIDS should be an election issue. We should vote for candidates who vow to end HIV #StayNegatHIVe
— Galo Glino III (@thirdyglino) September 18, 2015Stay informed
Contrary to what many Filipinos think, it is not only men who have sex with men (MSM) who are vulnerable to acquiring HIV, but anyone engaging in high-risk sexual behaviors such as unprotected sex.
HIV-positive pregnant women may also pass it down to their children during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or breastfeeding. But this may be prevented through treatment, which is why it is important for women to also get tested.
Some Filipinos also still fall prey to HIV/AIDS myths like:
- You can get HIV from toilet bowls
- You can get HIV from sharing food
- You can get HIV from mosquitos
But such scenarios are not exlusive to the Philippines. HIV remains a "major global public health issue," according to WHO. In 2014 alone, 36.9 million people living with HIV were recorded. In the same year, more than a million people worldwide died from HIV-related causes. So far, HIV has claimed over 34 million lives.
#StayNegatHIVe is the first part of MovePH's HIV/AIDS campaign, a concerted effort between all of MovePH's communities nationwide, LoveYourself and DM9 JaymeSyfu. We will be bringing in more groups in phase 2, especially those who cater to people living with HIV (PLHIV). –Rappler.com