TAGUIG, Philippines –Youth groups and AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Philippines renewed their call for the declaration of HIV as a Public Health Emergency as the number of HIV cases among young Filipinos continues to rise at an alarming rate. The group urged the government to act swiftly by prioritizing youth-centered responses, expanding access to prevention tools, and strengthening the country’s HIV education framework.
AHF Philippines Country Program Manager, Dr. Ryan C. Guinaran, highlighted the urgency of declaring HIV a national emergency and involving the youth in the national conversation, especially given the alarming number of cases among young people. “The Filipino youth is in an increasingly vulnerable position. Every day, more young people are added to the HIV statistics. This is not just a health issue – it is a national emergency that demands a whole-of-government and whole-of-society response. We must act now by scaling up access to accurate education, effective prevention tools, and inclusive services to protect the next generation,” said Guinaran.
Philippine National Aids Council Executive Director Dr. Joselito Feliciano stressed the need for an Executive Order to intensify the country’s HIV response to empower Filipinos to stay protected and get tested. “We need the support of the local government units in investing in their communities to fight the stigma on HIV, provide free access to contraceptives in places of high sexual activity, and in HIV testing centers.”
According to the Department of Health (DOH), new HIV cases are primarily among Filipinos aged 15 to 25 years old. Youth leaders from Girls Act Philippines, Fruity by LoveYourself, Kabataang FPOP, GABAY, Sangguniang Kabataan National Council, as well as representatives from the Philippine National AIDS Council, joined AHF in calling for a holistic approach to controlling the number of HIV cases in the country through education, prevention, and collaboration.
While prevention efforts are also essential in controlling the number of cases in the country, HIV prevention efforts in the Philippines account for only 6%, or PHP 211 million, of the total PHP 3.6 billion HIV expenditure in 2023. As such, youth leaders emphasized the need for broader access to prevention tools such as condoms and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).
In addition, Girls Act Philippines President Julian Tumbali stressed the importance of fighting the stigma surrounding HIV and challenging prejudice as part of the country’s HIV response. “With poor sex education and stigma on HIV continuing to persist, we must strengthen Comprehensive Sexuality Education to provide our fellow youth with accurate information,” Tumbali remarked.
“Young people must be part of the solution,” said Sydney Nadarisay of Kabataang FPOP. “We play a crucial role in the country’s HIV crisis response, with the ability to lead and inform. With the potential declaration of HIV as a Public Health Emergency, we are closer to effectively addressing this rising issue.”
About AHF Philippines
AHF is a global nonprofit organization providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to over 2.4 million people in 45 countries. In the Philippines, AHF has been operating since 2017 and works with government and non-profit organizations in seven out of the country’s 17 regions – supporting seven testing sites and 18 testing and treatment sites.
