Phl launches 1st AIDS hour

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is mounting the world’s first “AIDS Hour” today to raise awareness on the spreading infection that has killed thousands and caused stigma and discrimination to people living with the virus.

Health Secretary Janette Garin yesterday urged the public to light a candle from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and participate in the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial (IACM).

Garin said the IACM is an annual global event to commemorate those who died from HIV and AIDS, but this is the first time that an AIDS Hour will be observed globally.

“By lighting a candle, we hope that people will be reminded every time they see a lighted candle that there is a community of people living with HIV and help contribute to take away the stigma and discrimination,” Garin said.

“HIV is just a virus. We cannot allow it to destroy the lives of our fellow Filipinos. We can stop HIV transmission only through a collective effort beginning with widespread awareness about it and the necessary preventive behavior and measures,” Garin added.

She said the launch of the first AIDS Hour in the world is a concrete example of the Philippines doing its part in the campaign against HIV and AIDS.

32,647 HIV cases

Since the first HIV case was recorded in the country in 1984 until March 2016, the Department of Health (DOH) has recorded 32,647 HIV cases nationwide.

Of the total number, 1,675 have died of AIDS.

The predominant mode of transmission is sexual contact and more than half of the cases belong to the 25 to 34 years age group, according to Garin.

Meanwhile, close to 9,000 HIV cases involve youths aged 15 to 24 years.

Garin said HIV cases in the country have increased in recent years mainly because the DOH has established more testing centers.

As a result of the government’s “Know Your Status” campaign, Garin said most of those diagnosed with HIV were provided treatment and thus their infection was prevented from becoming full-blown AIDS.

“As you can see, the number of deaths due to AIDS is on the decline although the cases of HIV are increasing because people with AIDS now know what to do,” Garin said.

The health secretary called for the enforcement of the Reproductive Health Law to give young people age-appropriate knowledge and protect them from the threat of HIV.

“It is a fact that there are lots of young mothers and we have to face the reality that early sexual encounter exposes them to sexually transmitted diseases. To save them, we have to equip them with knowledge,” Garin said.

Photo contest

Ico Rodolfo Johnson, of the Project Red Ribbon Care Management Foundation Inc., said the DOH and the Quezon City government will be spearheading the observance of the 33rd IACM at the Quezon Memorial Circle that will also feature the world’s first AIDS Hour.

Johnson said with the AIDS Hour, the IACM need not be held in just one venue and people could join in the candle lighting wherever they are.

Johnson said there will also be a national photo contest in line with the event, where participants only need to upload a photo of their first AIDS Hour participation on Facebook using the hashtag #AIDSHour2016.

Johnson said they will also launch the host city competition to encourage local government units to participate and allow the activity to be held in other regions in the future.