Community in Action: First-ever National HIV Prevention Month rallies for a #SaferNowPH

written by Bet Domingo

Responding to the UNAIDS’ challenge to adopt a combination approach to HIV prevention, the Champion Community Centers and SKPA Philippines spearheaded the first-ever National HIV Prevention Month (NHPM) this year.

The celebration was strategically launched in response to the recent Presidential Proclamation No. 971, declaring the second week of July as Infection Prevention and Control Week. Besides the striking rate of COVID-19 cases, the Department of Health (DOH) reported that in the first quarter of the year, around 2,800 Filipinos were diagnosed with HIV. This surfaced the need to intensify promotion of HIV prevention methods.

Themed “Safer Now”, the NHPM celebration aims to promote use and access of four HIV combination prevention methods, including condoms and lubricants, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), and Treatment as Prevention (TasP). Following the UNAIDS’ harm reduction model, the campaign acknowledges that promoting one method alone is not enough to stop the HIV epidemic.

This month-long celebration highlighted the prevention methods through a series of online activities throughout the month of August. The NHPM kicked-off on July 31 through an online event introducing the importance of having the power to choose how one protects oneself from HIV. Condoms and lubricants were highlighted on August 8, as winners of the #ShootTheRubberPH photography contest were announced. Confusion regarding the difference of PrEP vs PEP was meanwhile cleared up on August 15 with a webinar. Further, hearts fluttered as the importance of TASP and the Undetectable=Unstramittable (U=U) concept was given a spotlight during an online dating show on August 22. Leading up to a fun-filled culmination on August 29, a free online screening of films from the CineSpectra 2019 and Elisa Richards was also held from August 26 to September 1.

Various community-based organizations across the country also followed suit, launching activities and localized campaigns in support of the NHPM. Through vlogs, talk shows, and physical community engagement activities, HIV advocates on a national scale showed their passion in educating and raising awareness about HIV combination prevention. Moreover, the Safe Spaces Chatbot was also launched (https://m.me/safespacesph) in support of the campaign, engaging Facebook users to know more about and access the HIV prevention methods.

This year’s NHPM is supported by UNAIDS Philippines, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Inc., Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations, APCOM, and LoveYourself, Inc. The NHPM is set to be a yearly campaign to advocate and spread awareness on HIV combination prevention.