BukSU promotes health awareness among personnel with HIV and AIDS symposium

The University Gender and Development Resource Center and the Human Resource Management Unit, in collaboration with ALAGAD Mindanao, Inc., and the Group of United Gays of Malaybalay (GUGMA) held a symposium for the university personnel on Kasikas: An HIV and AIDS Symposium at the University Mini-Theater and via virtual meeting on January 31, 2024.

Mr. Michael Jesus A. Mahinay, Executive Director of ALAGAD Mindanao and HIV counselor, explained the salient features of the Republic Act 11166, also known as the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act. Additionally, Mahinay discussed the five pillars of the AIDS Medium Term Plan (AMTP) 7: Prevent, Treat, Protect, Strengthen, and Sustain. This plan serves as a guide aimed at fostering a healthy environment for all and eradicating the stigma associated with hostility.

“Prevention involves efforts to avert new infection among key and vulnerable populations. Treatment focuses on providing care to individuals with HIV, improving their health outcomes and well-being. Protection entails safeguarding the rights of People Living with HIV (PLHIV), key populations, and individuals at risk of HIV. Strengthening involves reinforcing governance and leadership accountabilities, and systems across health, non-health, community, and strategic information. Lastly, sustainability means maintaining a harmonized, rights-based, fully resourced, and crisis-resilient HIV response,” Mahinay explained.

In the Philippines, UNAIDS disclosed a concerning trend of increasing new infections in 2022, with reported cases rising to 24,000 from 10,000 in 2015. Among the PLHIV, 63% were aware of their status, and 41% had opted for treatment.

Moreover, as of June 2023, the Philippine Epidemiology Bureau reported there were 1,518 new cases of HIV with 49 average cases per day.

As of May 2023, Region 10 reported a total of 295 HIV cases from January to May, with 56 new cases recorded in May alone. The majority of these new cases (55 out of 56) were male. The ages of reported cases ranged from 1-71 years old. Moreover, sexual contact remained the predominant mode of transmission (63.36%).

The symposium also covered an introduction to sexually transmitted diseases (STI), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).