DAVAO CITY (PIA) — As efforts to end Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) gain momentum, the Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC) is refining its strategies, strengthening information and education campaigns to empower the public to play an active role in combating the epidemic in the country.
Speaking at the recently concluded three-day media conference in Davao City, Dr. Marian Frances Ysaac of PNAC Davao emphasized that educating and engaging the public, especially the vulnerable sector, in the fight against HIV/AIDS is crucial in achieving the “95-95-95” targets of the Department of Health (DOH).
Ysaac shared that the 95-95-95 target, which is also the global benchmark, aims for 95 percent of all people living with HIV (PLHIV) to know their HIV status, 95 percent of those diagnosed with HIV to receive sustained antiretroviral therapy, and 95 percent of those undergoing treatment to achieve viral suppression.
However, Ysaac revealed that as of September 2024, the Philippines has only achieved 61 percent of the first 95 percent target. She explained that out of the estimated 215,000 PLHIV in the country, only around 130,000 have been identified.
She added that 67 percent for the second 95 percent target has been achieved so far, which translates to around 88,000 PLHIV currently undergoing treatment, while only 39 percent for the last 95 percent has been met, equating to around 34,000 PLHIV achieving viral suppressions.
As outlined in the 8-Point Priority Action Agenda for HIV/AIDS, Ysaac said that they are currently boosting their information and education efforts, aiming to increase testing, especially among those who are engaging in “high-risk behaviors” or those engaging in sexual activities without proper protection.
She added that part of the campaign is to ensure that all identified PLHIV will undergo sustained treatment by empowering them to undergo and continue treatment willingly. She noted that this is crucial in significantly increasing the number of virally suppressed PLHIV, which is considered non-transmissible.
“So yung gusto natin na mas malaki talaga yung covergae for testing, yung kailangan magpatest para ma meet natin yung first na 95. Crucial yun talaga, so dapat ma-increase yung testing, ma-increase ang treatment coverage and ma-ensure na our PHLHIV are virally suppressed,” Ysaac explained.
(What we really want is greater coverage for testing; there is a need to increase testing so we can meet the first 95. That’s really crucial, so testing and treatment coverage must be increased, and ensuring that our PHLHIVs are virally suppressed.)
To ensure that proper information is relayed to the public, Ysaac said that the PNAC, in collaboration with the DOH, the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau, and the Health Promotion Bureau, developed a standardized IEC material covering all necessary information regarding HIV/AIDS, which they called “HIV 101” module.
Acknowledging the technicality of HIV/AIDS, Ysaac explained that the module serves as a standardized, evidence-based, based, and culturally appropriate educational tool that can be used to educate the general public about HIV/AIDS.
“This particular module covers topics on HIV transmission, prevention, treatment, and stigma and discrimination reduction, as well as the rights of our PLHIV,” she shared.
She added, “On our part, we want to be able to simplify terminologies so that our general population can easily understand them.”
Since the module was approved by the council, they have been using it in information and education sessions conducted in communities, schools, and government institutions.
Ysaac added that through their PNAC Links program, copies of the module have been distributed to various organizations, including government offices and schools, during informative talks.
“We have links to government agencies and schools for the conduct of informative talks in various settings to reach a broader audience,” she said.
Also, she said that they have been encouraging various organizations who wish to conduct sessions on HIV/AIDS to use the same module.
“Sa mga gustong mag-conduct ng HIV 101 sa mga respective institutions, pwede naman po kayong humingi ng copy ditto sa amin. We’ll be sharing our resources,” she said.
(For those who want to conduct HIV 101 at their respective institutions, you can request a copy from us. We’ll be sharing our resources.)
At present, the module has been distributed to various national agencies and schools in the National Capital Region. She is optimistic that this will also be cascaded to the rest of the country.
Moreover, Ysaac revealed that they are currently developing key messages to strengthen their messaging efforts, focusing on ending the stigma to encourage more people to seek professional help.
“That’s why nag shi-shift tayo ng interventions, kasi gusto natin na ma-empower sila na ‘that’s okay,’ ‘we care about you,’ ‘this is a safe place’ through the development of key messages,” Ysaac shared.
(That’s why we’re shifting interventions; we want to empower them through the development of key messages.)
Moreover, Ysaac believed that they had been winning in their campaign, citing the data from the last quarter of 2024 that showed that the daily HIV cases decreased from 58 new cases to only 50 cases.
She emphasized that, in addition to their intensified information campaign, efforts will also focus on improving accessibility to protective measures, such as condoms, lubricants, and pre-exposure prophylaxis, among others.
Based on the data of DOH, there are a total of 13,321 new HIV cases in the country from January to September 2024. Of these, 731 come from the Davao region. (ASO/PIA XI)
