SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) —The Ilocos Empowering Community Humanity and Outreach (iECHO) Support Advocacy Incorporated, in partnership with the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITRMC) Treatment Hub, Provincial Health Office (PHO), among others conducted the World Aids Day Olympic in Agoo, La Union on December 1.
The first-ever World Aids Day Olympic, anchored on the theme “Let Communities Lead” is a flash mob dance for a cause-campaign through various competitions and activities.
In his message, Ronald Kevin Barangot, president of iECHO, said the flash mob dance aims to promote and bring people together in raisinh awareness about HIV-AIDS and to curb the increasing number of cases in the province.
“Through this campaign, as one of the members of PLHIV (People Living With HIV)community, mahalaga ang gapmanin ng bawat isa sa amin sa response ng HIV sa ating bansa dahil naniniwala po kami na hindi po ang HIV ang pumapatay sa mga talong namumuhay ng may HIV, kundi ang stigma at diskriminasyon na nararanasan ng bawat isa sa amin,” said Barangot.
More than 50 participants composed of Young Key Population (YKP), Gen-Z, and millennials aged 15-34 joined the said activity.
“These two groups together comprise 78 percent of the newly diagnosed cases of HIV in the start of year 2023,” Barangot explained.
In the report from Department of Health Region 1, a total of 37 HIV active cases were logged in the province from January to June 2023.
“Sana magkaroon ang activities na ito sa mga kabataan especially to our participants para ma-dessiminate nila ito sa kanilang mga kaibigan at the same time, sa families kasi marami pa rin po ang may stigma towards HIV,” said Tephanie Ruth Rimorin of PHO.
Some high school students from various schools in Agoo, La Union joined the mob dance for a cause campaign as part of the celebration of the World Aids Day on December 1. (KJCR Photo)
The program comprised various activities of HIV education, where different secondary schools, colleges, and universities both private and public, joined the flash mob dance and other interschool activities namely Contemporary Dance, Poster Making, Slogan Making, Spoken Poetry, and Photo Visual Poetry.
The iECHO is a newly formed support group of advocates and volunteers in which members are composed of committed and empowered individuals organized to help in HIV/AIDS education and awareness and to reduce the stigma and discrimination of PLVIHs based in Ilocos Region including La Union. (JCR/MJTAB/KJCR, PIA La Union)
