TDB reaches out to younger people in Oton, which has been identified by the health authorities as a “hotspot” for HIV in the province.
ILOILO CITY, Philippines–Preventing the spread of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) begins with knowing the science and stopping the stigma, and Team Dugong Bughaw (TDB) did just that with their Project Abot-Kamay (PAK) stop in Oton, Iloilo, one of the province’s most populated and a crucial spot for raising awareness.
TDB partnered with the Oton National High School (ONHS) Supreme Student Government, the school’s student body organization, to bring its signature Project High Five (PHF) to the institution.
PHF, which TDB has pioneered in Iloilo City, the province’s capital, since 2015, aims to bridge gaps in HIV care, foster inclusivity, and build a resilient and equitable local response via education, mental health support, and community engagement, among others.
TDB’s ‘kuyas and ates’, who have garnered experience in reaching out to communities, shared basic information on HIV and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), mental health, and stigma and discrimination.
Dr. Jasper Ruby Vijar, TDB’s co-founder and Programs Director, highlighted the importance of speaking to a younger population in raising awareness on HIV and its risks.
“HIV is something that we should be alarmed about because the cases of HIV are getting younger and younger. Right now, almost half the cases here in Iloilo City and province are constituted of young people aged 15 to 24 [years old], and that’s why we’re here in [ONHS] because we want to put the advocacy to a wider range of audience and a younger range as well,” Vijar told SE+A Online Media, the school’s official online media platform.
“Getting educated on HIV means being educated about healthy sexual practices, and also knowing the consequences of these actions, and how we could involve our community, our schools, our leaders[.] We want to start them young because by doing so, we can create a ripple effect that when they reach of age, when they’re in the working class, they will be more responsible with their actions,” he added.
Jewel Jaspe, a Grade 11 student, praised the “warm and welcoming” atmosphere of the PAK activity, which she said helped her learn the concepts better.
“What surprised me the most was how fun and interactive the seminar turned out to be, especially because of the TDB. They were so approachable and made me feel like I was simply chatting with friends, even while learning meaningful lessons. Their energy and positivity created a relaxed and encouraging environment, which made it easier for me to engage and genuinely enjoy the activities,” Jaspe said.
“Through Project Abot-Kamay, I learned a lot about important issues in our community. I now understand how fast HIV can spread and why testing, education, and breaking the stigma are so important. I also learned about SOGIESC, which taught me to respect and accept people’s identities and understand the challenges they face,” she said.
“Project Abot-Kamay also helped me see how harmful mental health stigma is. I realized how important it is to be supportive and open-minded so people feel safe asking for help. Most importantly, I learned how we can all make a difference by working together to create a kinder, more accepting, and healthier community,” she added.
Oton is the third stop in the five-town PAK, which aims to address HIV through a combination prevention approach that integrates biomedical, behavioral, and structural interventions.
This article is written with the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the purpose of this website.
