DOH uses indie film to boost fight vs HIV/AIDS

MANILA, Philippines - In a bid to curb the increasing number of HIV/AIDS cases in the country, the Department of Health (DOH) has invested in a movie to promote awareness and eliminate the stigma attached to the disease.

DOH Secretary Enrique Ona said through the indie film “HIV (Si Heidi, Si Ivy and si V),” they hope to boost the agency’s anti-HIV/AIDS campaign since Filipinos are naturally film lovers.

Ona said during yesterday’s press launch that they also hope to increase awareness about behaviors that make one vulnerable to contracting the AIDS virus.

According to DOH chief epidemiologist Dr. Eric Tayag, the movie “carries the message that we should not ostracize or stigmatize people with HIV.”

“The movie features their sacrifices, how they face life as an HIV positive and how one can acquire the virus. Movie-goers will learn a lot from this movie,” Tayag added.

The movie features a visual designer and young filmmaker played by actor Jake Cuenca, who was tapped by the DOH to do a documentary on three individuals with HIV, portrayed by actors Ma. Isabel Lopez, also the line producer; Iza Calzado and IC Mendoza.

Lopez is Heidi, a plain housewife Heidi who contracted the AIDS virus from her husband who worked overseas. Her nine-year-old son was also infected with HIV.

Calzado played Ivy, a call center agent who found out that she had HIV when she was applying for a work abroad while IC Mendoza took the role of Vanessa, a gay stand-up comedian who engaged in sex with different partners.

The DOH invested some P1.5 million in the project, which is under Exocain Productions and directed by Neal Tan. The movie will be shown through special screenings nationwide starting Dec. 1.

This is the first time that the agency had engaged in a movie production for HIV/AIDS. A decade ago, the life stories of HIV patients Sara Jane Salazar and Dolzura Cortez were turned into films, but these were produced by movie companies.

Tayag said the movie highlights the need for those at risk of getting HIV to constantly undergo testing and treatment to prevent their progression into AIDS.

HIV/AIDS used to be identified with commercial sex workers but in 2007, cases were seen mostly among men having sex with men. This year, the DOH observed a rise in cases among injecting drug users in Cebu.

Tayag added that in September, the DOH had recorded 153 new HIV cases and this is 173 percent higher than the 56 cases in September last year. Since January 2010, there have been a total of 1,201 HIV cases.

DOH records showed that from January 1984 to September 2001, the agency monitored a total of 5,625 cases but 852 of them have progressed into AIDS.