The HIV Cases in the Philippines is still going up. There are still people dying because of AIDS. There are people resigning from work, or stopping school because of the fear of discrimination. There are kids still getting evicted from their homes by their own families. There are still people whose health is deteriorating because they don't get treatment. There are still OFW's with HIV who get deported and accosted from muslim countries.
This is what Project Red Ribbon is experiencing. This is what I have been encountering since 2011. It doesn't stop. It doesn't get any better.
There are a lot of factors why this is still happening.
Weak Education on HIV and AIDS.
For the longest time, Project Red Ribbon has been pushing for reforms in the educational system. Up to now, there is still no curriculum for HIV and AIDS when the epidemic is now pronounced among the youth staring from age 15. Sexual education is still weak. The question is still when to start educating the youth on sex, and on protection from sexually transmitted infections.
I do believe that sex should be taught and discussed at home while values are still being formed. It is important that parents and siblings should be open about sexuality and sex per se so that children won't resort the peers or the internet for information. The use of condoms should already be discussed in preparation for adulthood. In the school, everything should be taught as early as grade school. This would somehow delay the sexual debut of children, by starting to be careful at an early age. By talking, children will be protected and not just experiment with peer pressure and information from peers. By early education, children will be equipped with all the knowledge they can get to protect themselves from teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections and HIV and AIDS. This should be followed up by a curriculum in both high school and college. The reality in the Philippines, because of the social taboo because of the strong conservatism of the country, that sex is not discussed, not even strongly taught. The Department of Health already sounded the alarm, and yet the Department of Education is still not hurrying to save the youth. The National Youth Commission already is stepping up but without an educational system in place, it would be an uphill battle to arrest an epidemic which can be prevented by a strong family or home education and a strong educational program in school.
In every part of the country, the alarm is sounding. Local government units, government agencies and non-government organizations are now starting to act. However, the values have been formed and now it is taking atoll to resources both financial and human resources to combat the epidemic. I attended one meeting and the blame game is now in place. Blame the internet. Blame the attitudes of the millennial. How stupid is this. Values can be created at home. Values can be established during the formative years. Values can be strengthened in schools. Please lets not blame things for our failures.
Arresting at a Later Age: Slow Result
The Philippines is the number one country with the highest increase in HIV cases in Asia. Based on the report of UNAIDS, we have 174% increase followed by Sri Lanka and Pakistan. In Thailand, it is exponentially below 0 already.
So what's going on? Why are we not paying attention? Why are we waiting for more Filipinos to get diagnosed with HIV and die because of AIDS? 33 new HIV infections per day are being reported. Do we want it to be in the hundreds per day? Why the slowness in response?
Like what I said, I have been in the HIV advocacy since 2011. Unfortunately the action is VERY slow. Lot's of bureaucracy. Lot's of red tape. In the government, since only more than 2,000 have died because of HIV since 1984, it is not a priority. Local government units except for some cities have put money on HIV programs. The rest have to be encouraged. Some known advocates, do it for publicity. Some mayors need the press to sign a commitment. Some HIV organizations are just making money out of international funds. When the real advocates are already getting burned out, when some doctors who have been in the HIV Program feel so restless and somehow frustrated about the entire scenario.
So when can we reverse the epidemic? It is the question. There are timelines to be met, however, the Global Fund will now end on 2020. Goodluck. Most organizations that rely on projects, and more local government units that rely on support from GF for their manpower have no sustainable alternative. Goodluck. Most Department of Health programs both national and local, that rely on GF for meetings, activities and projects will start to feel later on this effect. Goodluck.
Right now, we are addressing behaviours that have already been established. Like what I said this should have been addressed at home or in school. What we are seeing right not is that we are trying to arrest behaviours that are now formed from self education and from peers, and will really take an effort to re-educate and re-establish behaviours.
I am, personally, not giving up on hope. I am still hoping that can reverse the epidemic. I just do hope that we act fast, before it becomes too late.
The Corporate World Needs to Step-up.
Up to now, only a few employers or companies are addressing the HIV issue of the country. Because the Department of Labor and Employment has not been really engaged with the problem, or even really checking if companies have HIV in the workplace policy or the implementation of corporate HIV programs, the corporate world still don't regard this is a program to be given attention to. Some companies have stepped up, making HIV and AIDS Programs sustainable form education, HIV screening and ambassadorship. Others, majority of which are the small and medium scale industries don'y even have HIV in the workplace policies in place.
The Policy, in a requirement of DOLE. However, a fine for not having it is very weak. Companies just pay the fine and not have it. Period. But this is the problem. In the Policy, there should be a regular HIV education program. There should be protection and confidentiality of HIV status. HIV Test should not be a prerequisite for employment or promotion of employees. There should be agreed workplace accommodations for people living with HIV and with those who have AIDS. This is importan because this establishes a healthy workplace. This establishes a safe working environment where there is acknowledgement of sexual diversity and social inclusion.
Also, HIV programs should also be part of the corporate social responsibility of companies. We all know that what the government can't do, the private sector can. Employers need to step up, however, if this is not relayed to companies, that it is already NEEDED that companies need to step up their game in the HIv situation in the country, not all will pay attention.
What worked in other countries, the reason for their arrest of the epidemic is a strong partnership between the government, the non-government organizations and the private and or employers. All them should work hand in hand. This is in play in the first world countries. In the Philippines it doesn't. Perhaps here and there there is a partnership but not creating the most impact. Sad reality.
Biut Project Red Ribbon doesn't lose hope. We keep on focusing on the things that we can do. We are raising our voices, so that we can be heard. We are doing everything so that we can establish this partnership by strong corporate HIV programs so that they can replicate in their companies.
The End is Still not Visible.
The paths toward the goal is visible, the end is not. There are different efforts, different movements but if we are slow, the goal becomes vaguer and vaguer. We need to focus on WHEN we need to address it. Realistically. We need to fill in the loop holes now, and engage everyone or else, the behaviours that we are trying to cheeange will not be affected anymore.
Project Red Ribbon can only hope for the best. Like when I got diagnosed in September 2011, seven years ago, I fought back and relied on hope. I will continue on this and hold on to HOPE... that someday, our government, the NGO's and the corporate world would come and help reverse the HIV epidemic in the Philippines.
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Tags: HIV Manila, HIV Philippines, AIDS Manila, AIDS Philippines, HIV/AIDS Manila, HIV/AIDS Philippines