HIV center in Cebu to open next year

CEBU, Philippines — A new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing center in Cebu City is set to open in January next year.

The “LoveYourself White House” will operate at #40 Don Julio Llorente Street, Capitol Site, the first outside Metro Manila.

The center will cater to Cebuanos seeking HIV-related services.

“This move aims to address the growing numbers of HIV infection among the youth and at risk populations,” LoveYourself founder and executive director Ronivin Pagtakhan said.

In the past 10 years, the proportion of HIV diagnosis in 15-24 age group more than doubled from 13 percent in 2008 to 29 percent in 2018 based on the latest Department of Health data.

Pagtakhan said it is important to instill into the minds of the youth like the university students of the ways to prevent HIV, and by having regular test as a medical routine.

The LoveYourself, Inc., the leading community-led HIV services provider, has already opened its two other HIV testing centers in the National Capital Region (NCR).

The LoveYourself Welcome is the first community center, which opened last November 17. It is located at 858 Blumentritt Road cor. Remedios St., Sampaloc, Manila near the iconic Welcome Rotonda.

The clinic is open from 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. from Tuesdays to Saturdays.

With LoveYourself Welcome located near the University Belt, it aims to provide a convenient access to HIV screening and other related services for students, and youngsters, among others.

The second NCR community center is the Lily by LoveYourself located at #98 Pineda Building Manalac Ave., Sitio De Asis, Barangay San Martin De Porres, Paranaque City, just across the Waltermart in Upper Bicutan.

Aside from HIV testing, Lily by LoveYourself, in partnership with Decent Image of South Signal Association (DIOSSA), will also offer hormone replacement therapy and counseling from Wednesdays to Sundays between 12:00 noon to 9:00 p.m.

Existing community center of LoveYourself are LoveYourself Anglo (Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City), LoveYourself Uni (Taft Ave., Pasay City), and Victoria by LoveYourself (Park Ave., Manila).

These community centers are supported by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc., as well as MACARE Laboratories.

LoveYourself is an organization composed of volunteers who take multi-layered action on the HIV epidemic by promoting self-worth and the so-called TSC concept, which means “timely testing and treatment, safe and satisfying sex, and correct and consistent use of condom” as ways to protect one’s self from doing risky behaviors. (FREEMAN)