To highlight awareness and education in the global public health issue of HIV and AIDS, students, professionals, medical practitioners, and Ilonggo advocates united to commemorate World AIDS Day last Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024.
This year’s theme is “Take the rights path,” highlighting human rights at the center to end the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), that causes AIDS.
The event was held at Robinsons Place Jaro, Iloilo City filled with educational discussions, opportunity for free HIV testing and free PrEP enrollment (PrEP is a drug taken to prevent HIV transmission).
The event was spearheaded by Team Dugong Bughaw, Inc., an Iloilo City-based non-government organization that also started its roots in the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) in 2015 with students taking up Public Health, Biology, and Communication and Media Studies at the time, serving as the founders.
Various organizations across Iloilo served as partners in the event to put up booths, including Team Dugong Bughaw’s local university wing, Team Dugong Bughaw-UPV, where they have managed to spread the message of HIV and AIDS awareness through art in their booth set-up.
The presence of booths enabled casual mall-goers to be educated and get involved in the event.
World AIDS Day is an annual worldwide event celebrated to stand in solidarity with people living with HIV (PLHIVs) and commemorate those who have lost their lives because of it.
