Community Spotlight: YCAP moving forward on its 1st anniversary

written by Nadim Lumubos

Celebrating its 1st Year Anniversary and World AIDS Day 2020, the Youth Center for AIDS Prevention (YCAP Community Center), an FPOP Pampanga Primary HIV Care Clinic based in San Fernando, Pampanga conducted various activity to raise awareness, stop stigma and discrimination against HIV/ AIDS and promotion of Telemedicine Hotline of the Facility including the PrEP and PEP Services.

YCAP Community Center established December 5, 2019 is a HIV Treatment Facility managed by the FPOP Pampanga. It was first thought to be a Youth Center catering the needs of the Young People to Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights (SRHR) and Family Planning Services but with the continuous effort of Mrs. Valentina S. David, Chapter Program Manager of FPOP Pampanga, Youth Volunteers and Staff, it was turned into a Treatment Facility. Today, with more than 30 Enrolled Clients and counting and with linkages with other LGUs, Organizations and Communities outside Pampanga, the YCAP Community Center is achieving its purpose as to highlight HIV Advocacy and be one the Treatment Center in Region III.

It started December 1, where volunteers and staff distributed condom and lubes in front of the facility among the passerby. They set up a booth to which they decorated with campaign materials on HIV, promotion of the chapter hotlines, and PrEP services. On its first day, they were able to distribute 1,000 condoms and screened at least 8 members of the Young Key Population.

On December 4, the YCAP-FPOP trained 10 Youth Volunteers to continue with the Chapter Advocacies and its Services. It was facilitated by the representative from the DOH Region III.

The first anniversary of the YCAP Community Center was held December 5, with a Motorcade and continuous Distribution of Condom and Lubes. The Motorcade went to 5 Barangays that surrounded the Community Center with the help of Barangay Maimpis and the Maimpis Drivers Club. Meanwhile, honored guest from LoveYour-12self Inc. and Office of Senator Risa Hontiveros were invited to grace on the said activity.

December 9, the team went to Porac, Pampanga to conduct HIV Awareness among the Indigenous People. They were taught how to use condom and offered free screening. It was followed by Mass Testing on December 10 held at Candaba, Pampanga to which attended by more than 50 LGBTQ++ Participants. The team introduce the YCAP Services among the YKPs of the said area and given talk about STI, HIV/AIDS and promote the Local and National Hotlines. After the activity, more than 30 YKPs were screened and the rest availed free condoms and lubricants.

On December 11, the Virtual Meeting and Orientation was conducted with the 1st Batch of Partner LGUs, Organizations, and Communities. The meeting with partners is for the Planning of Activities for the Action Plan of YCAP on 2021. It was attended by SKs, President of the Organization, and representative from the LGBT Community. The 2nd Batch will be on December 19 with other partners outside Pampanga.

On December 15, YCAP went to Porac, Pampanga to conduct Medical Mission with the Regional Mobile Force Battalion, Police Regional Office 3, National Commission on Indigenous People Region 3 and Tulong Sulong Organization. Along with the Services Offered are HIV 101, Free Condom and Lubes and hot to use it. The team also give HIV screening among the IP Communities.

On December 16, YCAP and FPOP invited Mother Elena Felix, 62 years old, living with HIV since 1994 to share her life-story, views and opinion on stigma and discrimination, coping with difficulties and her success story in an Online Talk Show entitled NightTalk: Through Our Eyes. Along with the Online Activity, the Advocacy Video to Stop Stigma and Discrimination against HIV/AIDS of the Facility was simultaneously uploaded to YCAP Facebook Page.

Among the major activities conducted by YCAP and FPOP are the promotions of the Local and National youRHotline. It is a Telemedicine Project of the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines where it offers Free Consultation with a Doctor and Nurse on Reproductive and Sexual Health Concerns, Violence Prevention and Post-care Abortion.

By the Year 2021, with the wide range of Partners and Pool of Volunteers and with Plan of Action rendered by Partner LGUs, NGOs, other Organization, and Communities during the Virtual Meeting, the YCAP Community Center will surely emerge as one of leading treatment facility in raising awareness in HIV and continue its mandate for early detection and early treatment among its target individuals.

The YCAP Community Center and FPOP Pampanga would like to thank YouRHotline, a Global Affairs Canada Project by FPOP, TLY, SKPA, Champion Community Center, SaferNowPH and the DOH Region III for their continuous support on our activities and effort as we end HIV by year 2030.