While significant progress has been made globally in curbing the spread of HIV, the Philippines has one of the fastest-growing infection rates in the world. Despite opposition from the Catholic Church and other social challenges, activists are fighting to improve access to prevention and treatment. Nejma Bentrad and Alban Alvarez report.
In the Philippines, the number of people living with HIV in the archipelago has increased fourfold over the past 12 years – nearly 210,000 Filipinos are now HIV-positive, with an alarming average of 55 new infections every day.
In the age of dating apps, HIV is particularly affecting young people, with more than half of new infections among people aged 15 to 24.
The LGBT community, already burdened by stigma, is on the front lines, with many facing difficulties in accessing care.
In this deeply religious country, sex education in schools, including public ones, faces significant opposition from the Catholic Church, which is followed by 90 percent of the population. The Church promotes abstinence and fidelity over condom use, warping public discourse on sexual health.
To address this, the government allocated new funding and passed a law in 2018 which grants HIV-positive people access to health insurance and allows people above the age of 15 to undergo screening without parental consent.
Civic activism
The Philippines’ largest association in the fight against HIV – the NGO Love Yourself – has set up inclusive health facilities that allow people living with HIV to be treated.
The NGO has also built an army of 2.0 activists to reach out to the hyper-connected younger generation through nationwide campaigns.
Meanwhile a few celebrities have also broken the silence on the silent epidemic. Adrian Lindayag, a popular young TV actor, speaks to FRANCE 24 about his fight against HIV.
Offstage and away from the cameras, the 29-year-old is raising awareness on mental and sexual health with humor and comedy as he shares videos on the subject with his 70,000 Instagram followers.
The United Nations aims to end HIV transmission worldwide by 2030 – a goal that seems, for now, out of reach for the Philippines.
Government projections estimate the number of HIV-positive people could reach 400,000 by then.
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