Business World, 3 July 2014

OVER the past 10 years, the Philippines has recorded a steady -- and alarming -- rise in the number of cases of HIV-AIDS. According to UNICEF, while the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the country is still low, there was a 79% increase in the number of newly reported cases in 2013 compared to 2012.

Dr. Rossana A. Ditangco, head of the AIDS research group of the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) said that there are now 14 new infections a day -- roughly one person is infected with HIV every two hours.

"We saw that trend way back in 2007," she said during the launch of a new HIV testing and community center on June 22. "Every year we are seeing a very rapid rise in the number of new cases being diagnosed."

One of the most vulnerable demographics, she said, are men who have sex with men (MSM) and the youth -- with those aged 20-35 years old more at risk.

On that note, the non-profit organization LoveYourself -- in partnership with the Department of Health-RITM with a grant from the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria -- opened its second HIV-testing center along Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City.

Located in a nondescript building, LoveYourself Anglo is larger than the original center in Malate which currently services hundreds of clients weekly.

The new testing/community center is equipped with seven counseling-testing rooms, a multi-purpose hall for training, workshops, and other activities, a counselor's lounge, and a larger, comfortable waiting area for those who wish to get tested.

The center is offering its services (testing and counseling) for free for everyone but is particularly geared towards the at-risk demographics.

Christopher M. Lagman, LoveYourself director for communications, said that people can just walk in and avail of the services without scheduling an appointment.

"This is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 12 noon to 9 p.m., although we accept clients until seven due to the processing required," he said.

LoveYourself is planning to open a new center in Pasig City, near the LRT-2 Santolan station, targeted towards the youth and university crowd. This center will be called LoveYourself UNI.

PREVENTION CAMPAIGN
LoveYourself also unveiled its partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the Joint UN Program on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) for the local version of the "Protect the Goal" (PTG) campaign.

PTG is an international campaign aimed towards HIV/AIDS prevention which was launched in 2010 during the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. It was re-launched in 2013 to focus on the FIFA World Cup in Brazil this year. The campaign capitalizes on the popularity of football and its influence as a leverage to promote HIV prevention programs in Asia and the Pacific region.

With the cooperation of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and the country's national football team -- the Philippine Azkals -- the program will name three ambassadors to help promoting the campaign.

Edwin B. Gastanes, PFF general secretary, said that they plan on presenting program materials during Azkals matches in order to spread the awareness.

LoveYourself Anglo is located at units 2-6, 3/F 715-A Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City (at the back of Star Mall and a three-minute walk from MRT Shaw station). For more details and schedules of HIV testing services, visit www.loveyourself.ph -- Z.B. Chua

Source: Business World