Health advocacy group backs new HIV law

MANILA, Philippines — Health advocacy group Forum for Family Planning and Development Inc. (The Forum) expressed support for the new law on HIV/AIDS, saying this will likely curb the epidemic, especially among the youth.

The Forum president Benjamin de Leon said the enactment of Republic Act 11166 or the HIV and AIDS Policy Act of 2018 may improve the scenario for children and youth since it would stop the rapid virus transmission among those in the young age brackets who had to seek parental and guardian consent prior to getting tested.

“Our work in The Forum involves responding to the reproductive and sexual health needs of children and young people through education and information campaigns to increase awareness. The situation in the areas where we work is dismal because young people lack information and therefore are not empowered to know about their health and how to seek help,” De Leon said. 

De Leon added “infection can spread unchecked if we continue to deny children and youth the necessary and urgent medical attention that they can get.”

De Leon underscored the urgent need to address their lack of information, which is one of the major reasons why infection rates in the country are rising alarmingly.

He added the most important feature of the new law is the removal of the need for “mature” minors between 15 and 18 to get parental consent prior to getting an HIV test.  

“Children and young people can now avail themselves of the HIV test, and if they turn out positive, they can be treated and supported early,” De Leon said.  

He added that because of better access and early medical and psychosocial intervention, stigma and discrimination will slowly be a thing of the past for children and youth who are living with HIV and AIDS.

For almost two decades, there had been no comprehensive sex and sexuality education of any kind in the country.

“And it is the advocacy groups who are active in doing this in the hard-to-reach areas,” he said.

“Let us rally behind the law and implement an education program that raises awareness and teaches prevention that helps reduce risky, vulnerable behavior. Let us now strengthen our advocacy in promoting a rights-based approach in addressing HIV and AIDS,” he added.

In 2017, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) reported that the Philippines recorded the fastest growing HIV epidemic in the Asia Pacific from 2010 to 2016 with a 141 percent increase.  

This means 32 new cases reported daily in the country.