A one-night occasion celebrating love in all types and expressions have been held final Saturday to assist cease the stigma surrounding folks residing with HIV (PLHIV).
Called the Festival of Luv, the occasion is a part of Department of Health’s partnership with the FREE TO BE U marketing campaign that goals to empower PLHIV to interrupt free from worry, labels, and disgrace.
Launched on February 14 by EpiC Philippines, the marketing campaign additionally goals to boost understanding of obtainable HIV packages and companies for PLHIV and populations disproportionately affected by HIV.
“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,” Teresita Marie Bagasao, Project Director of EpiC Philippines stated.
“The Festival of Luv, one of EpiC Philippines’ many initiatives, was organized to help promote the FREE TO BE U para sa Healthy Pilipinas campaign and provide a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community and allies where we can celebrate love in all its beauty and forms: be steadfast in the face of a positive HIV diagnosis; be advocates for PLHIV and the people who care for them; and keep on dreaming and fighting for a Philippines where we can turn to each other – whatever your gender, status, or sexuality – and say, ‘You are FREE TO BE U,” Bagasao added.
Based on the most recent knowledge of the DOH Epidemiology Bureau, there have been 861 confirmed HIV-positive people reported to HIV/AIDS and ART Registry of the Philippines (HARP) in December 2022.
According to Joven Santiago, the EpiC Philippines’ Technical Adviser for Social and Behavior Change Communication, the stigma surrounding the PLHIV and the worry to speak about it may be attributed to the rising HIV instances within the nation.
Santiago stated that to interrupt the HIV stigma within the nation, folks ought to begin speaking about it.
“It starts with talking about it. A lot of misconceptions happen because we don’t talk about certain things and we have different ideas of what it is. By normalizing that, we can tell even the general population that it’s okay to talk about HIV and it’s okay to access these general services,” he stated.
“The more society talks about it; the more we break the stigma,” he added.
Santiago additionally stated companies like HIV testing needs to be extra accessible and handy to everybody.
“It starts with them knowing where to access, kasi for the longest time ang challenge na kinakaharap ng mga HIV patients is the stigma, misinformation and misconception about HIV and sex being not normalized in the country. With the Free 2 Be U campaign we really want everyone in the community to talk about sex and to talk about the available HIV services,” he stated.
Santiago additionally inspired people to get HIV exams to guard and stop themselves in opposition to the virus.
—MGP, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
