Around the world on Sunday (May 16), advocates of HIV-AIDS awareness around the world lit candles to remember those who died from the disease. More than a symbolic memorial, this year's event seeks to highlight how the pandemic has heightened the challenges faced by people living with HIV.
Locked down for weeks, sometimes even months, people living with HIV are in danger of losing access to treatment such as antiretrovirals. Stigmatized in society, they now also have to declare their conditions when seeking priority access to vaccines.
The University of the Philippines-Manila and America's Brown University have joined forces to raise awareness on the plight of people living with HIV during the pandemic through a five-part webinar series, "HIV and COVID-19".
As of December last year, HIV testing fell 61% and initiation of treatment dropped 28%, state-run Philippine News Agency reported, citing DOH data. Of the estimated 111,400 Filipinos living with HIV during the same month, 70% were aware of their status while 61% are on antiretrovirals.
The DOH recorded 4,574 AIDS deaths between 1984 and 2020.
The UP Manila-Brown University webinars will be hosted via Zoom, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on alternating Saturdays in July and August. Here are the topics and schedules:
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COVID-19 and the HIV Cascade of Care: Emergent Challenges, Innovative Response (July
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On the Ground: COVID-19 Narratives and Realities of the PLHIV Community (July 17)
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Who is Next in Line? Consideration and Guidelines in Vaccinating the PLHIv Community (July 31)
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Communities and COVID-19: A Roundtable with Community-Based Organizations (Aug. 14)
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Next Steps: The Post-Pandemic Philippine HIV Epidemic Response (Aug. 21)
“HIV is not a death sentence. With access to the right information and life-saving treatment, HIV can be managed and those afflicted with the disease can lead happy, healthy, and normal lives," Health Sec. Francisco Duque III said.
"To our PLHIV, help is always available. We urge you to access our free services and we assure you that support will continue even amid the COVID-19 pandemic. You do not have to go through this alone. Do not hesitate to contact your health care providers for any concern, especially in these trying times," he said.
People living with HIV are priority A3 for vaccines, lumped together with others with co-morbidities such as diabetes and hypertension.
Please register through this link: https://tinyurl.com/UPMBrownWebinar or scan the QR code in the poster.
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