Urgent Action Needed: 86 Teens and Transgender Individuals Diagnosed with HIV in the Philippines
The recent report that 86 kids and teens in the Philippines had HIV diagnoses in January 2023 is quite alarming. This serves as a glaring reminder that the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the nation continues to be a serious public health issue that needs immediate response.?
Despite the fact that HIV/AIDS affects people of all ages, the fact that more children and teenagers are receiving the disease's diagnosis emphasizes the need for more focused preventative initiatives
In order to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS effectively, the?government and healthcare professionals must adopt a comprehensive strategy
Also, it is critical that initiatives to combat HIV/AIDS include all groups, including transgender people, who have a higher risk of contracting the virus. Reducing the transmission of the virus requires making sure that HIV prevention and treatment programs are available and attentive to cultural differences for all people.
Furthermore, it is critical to stress the importance of a robust public health response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 outbreak has disrupted medical services and created economic unpredictability, which could worsen the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Even as it continues to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippine?government must make sure that HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs are given top priority.
The revelation that 86 kids and teens received HIV diagnoses in January should serve as a wake-up call for the Philippines to step up its efforts to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Governments and healthcare organizations must act to stop new infections from occurring and guarantee that everyone living with HIV receives the treatment and assistance they require. The Philippines can only hope to accomplish the UN Sustainable Development Goals and UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets and lessen the effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country by taking a comprehensive and inclusive strategy.
Transgender Health
The HIV/AIDS situation in the Philippines continues to be a significant public health issue, with the nation experiencing one of the Asia-Pacific region's fastest-growing epidemics. In the Philippines, there were around 77,000 persons living with HIV as of 2020, with an expected 12,000 new infections that year, according to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). About 5% of HIV patients are transgender individuals, who have particular difficulties getting access to healthcare.
Due to a number of circumstances, including stigma and prejudice, lack of access to healthcare, and ignorance of HIV prevention and treatment, transgender people in the Philippines are more likely to contract HIV. Transgender women had an HIV prevalence rate of 11.8%, which is much higher than the 0.1% national norm, according to a study by the University of the Philippines.?
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Despite initiatives to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic, transgender people in the Philippines encounter considerable obstacles when trying to access services for HIV prevention, testing, and treatment. The expense of services and transportation may be out of reach for many transgender people due to discrimination and a lack of understanding on the part of healthcare professionals.
The Philippines' local governments must give transgender health top priority and make sure that all people, regardless of gender identity, may access and use HIV prevention and treatment programs. In addition to offering free or inexpensive HIV testing and treatment, this entails raising awareness of HIV prevention and treatment among transgender people and healthcare professionals.
The UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets, which call for 90% of people living with HIV to be aware of their status, 90% of those who have been diagnosed with HIV to start antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 90% of those who are taking ART to achieve viral suppression by 2020, have been met in part by the Philippines. The Philippines had only reached 81-84-89 as of 2020, showing that more effort needs to be done to meet the goals.?
The creation of treatment hubs that offer comprehensive HIV care, including ART, psychological support, and adherence counseling is a crucial step in accomplishing these goals and enhancing HIV/AIDS care for transgender people. These centers can also offer services that are welcoming to transgender people and address their particular needs and difficulties.
With addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic, it is critical that the Filipino government and healthcare professionals give transgender people's needs top priority. The nation can only hope to meet its goals and stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Philippines by providing inclusive and accessible care.
Sources:
UNAIDS. (2021). HIV and AIDS estimates: Philippines.?https://www.unaids.org/en/regionscountries/countries/philippines
University of the Philippines. (2016). HIV/AIDS and transgender people in the Philippines.?https://www.researchgate.net/publication/311977053_HIVAIDS_and_Transgender_People_in_the_Philippines
The Global Fund. (2019). The Philippines: Addressing the HIV epidemic.?https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/blog/2019-10-16-the-philippines-addressing-the-hiv-epidemic