HIV care and support group in the philippines

CEBU, Philippines - Being in a support group has proven to be tremendously helpful towards helping many HIV-infected individuals face and move through the difficult points in their lives. Members of the group, mostly those undergoing similar conditions, offer not only authentic empathy, emotional comfort and moral support but also practical advice and suggestions to help one cope with the situation.

The website www.8list.ph lists organizations in the country that envisions to improve the quality of life of HIV-positive people and to educate the Filipinos on the need to protect themselves from the infection:

The Love Yourself (TLY) Group. TLY is founded by Ronivin Pagtakhan and is grounded in its belief that "self-worth is the key to building an empowered community." The group offers testing services as well as education and counseling, particularly to the youth and MSM (men having sex with men). The group's website - www.loveyourself.ph; email address - [email protected].

Aids Society of the Philippines (ASP). ASP is managed by people from different sectors of the government, non-government agencies, and the private sector, all sharing the same goal in preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS. The group has over 60 projects with international support, aiding in advising the Philippine National AIDS Council on national policies. The website - AidsPhil.org; email address - [email protected].

The Red Whistle (TRW). In its aim to pool and encourage people to fight together against HIV and AIDS, TRW utilizes media and popular culture to draw the public's attention and to see a change in the way people understand the disease. It aims to spread AIDS education and awareness, believing that HIV and AIDS need to be addressed immediately. Through its spokespersons and partnered brands, TRW raises funds to provide free testing, counseling, and financial support to People Living with HIV (PLHIV). The website - www.theredwhistle.com

B-Change. Its founder Laurindo Garcia is the first Asian gay man living with HIV to address an international forum - a stage he shared with the likes of former US President Bill Clinton and Nobel prize winner Dr. Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, among other public health and human rights champions. The organization was founded in 2011 with the aim to integrate technology and social change through web applications and social media, connecting the youth to allies and other peers. The website - B-Change; social media contact - B-Change Facebook.

Action for Health Initiatives, Inc. (ACHIEVE). Led by Ms. Mara Quesada-Bondad as executive director, its programs focus on migration, health, gender, sexuality, and reproductive health. ACHIEVE is a member of the Coordination of Action Research on AIDS and Mobility in Asia (CARAM-Asia), a regional network of organizations working on HIV and AIDS issues in the Asian region, among many others. The website - Achieve.org.ph.

The Positive Action Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. (PAFPI). PAFPI is geared towards assisting patients and affected family members through counseling and psychological support services, providing education and care for AIDS symptoms at home. The group has established a drop-in center called Bahay Kanlungan, which provides temporary shelter to people living with HIV (PLHIV). The website - pafpi.org; email address - [email protected].

Cebu Plus Association, Inc. (CPAI). In Cebu, a number of government health facilities have been providing services to HIV patients, like Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center  (VSMMC), Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC), as well as the health offices in Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City. In most of the local health governments' endeavors, programs have been coordinated with the local support group. CPAI is a non-profit support group run and organized by various concerned individuals in Cebu. Organized in April 2008 and has since been existing with the assistance of Positive Action Foundation Philippines Inc. (PAFPI), Department of Health Region 7 (DOH 7), Cebu City Multi-Sectoral AIDS Council (CCMSAC) and Asilo de la Milagrosa, the organization aims to help educate and support people living with HIV/AIDS on matters like universal access to treatment, care and support. The website - cebuplusorg.com; email address - [email protected].   (FREEMAN)