Community in Action: FPOP reaches clients through 'iScreen' amid lockdowns in Iloilo

written by Emmanuel Lerona

The Family Planning Organization of the Philippines - Iloilo Chapter (FPOP Iloilo) was tasked to do the groundwork when the World Health Organization (WHO) tapped the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 to promote HIV self-screening in the region starting in the last quarter of 2019.

Dubbed as “iScreen”, the project was aimed at the discreet sectors of the population who previously could not be reached by the assisted HIV testing or who were reluctant to visit a screening facility. Persons interested to do self-screening only need to register through the iScreen’s online portal: tinyurl.com/iScreen2020.

Headed by project officers Roberto Figuracion Jr., and Vince Misterio, iScreen was launched in March 2020 to continue testing services despite the imposition of community quarantine. Offered online, the iScreen portal received 132 requests in its first month. As of the time of writing, the program has received a total 446 requests, with, 338 already delivered. Since the project’s implementation, 32 reactive cases have been reported and were linked to care.

“The reactive cases from the self-screening project proves that, indeed, there is a need for us to do more novel and out-ofthe-box approaches to reach this previously unreachable sector. If we did not have iScreen, these people would still not be aware of their status, and given their reluctance to do traditional testing, there would be no way for them to find out. We are very privileged and thankful that we have iScreen in FPOP Iloilo,” shared Figuracion.

Misterio, on the other hand, said, “When it comes to knowing your status, it doesn’t matter who you are or what you are, what matters is what you do.”

“Together with DOH and WHO, we give our community another option to know their status, which is to self-screen. There is absolutely no reason to fear for their sex life as long as they know their status in a secure and comfortable environment.”

FPOP Iloilo is known to be at the forefront of HIV screening in Western Visayas. Despite being a non-government organization with fewer than ten staff, FPOP is recognized not only for its efforts in addressing sexual and reproductive health and rights but also for its HIV and AIDS services and advocacy. They have also been actively working with the local government unit of Iloilo City through its agencies such as the City Social Welfare and Development Office and the City Population Office, as well as other regional and national agencies such as the Commission on Population, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the DOH.