In celebration of Pride Month last June, the University of the Philippines Visayas - Gender and Development Program (UPV GDP) and the Ugsad Regional Gender Resource Network held a forum on LGBT Health, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) awareness, and fostering inclusivity at the UPV Little Theatre, Iloilo City campus on June 28, 2024.
The forum titled “Pride Month Forum: Empowering Local Communities for an Inclusive HIV Awareness and Health Service Delivery” gathered representatives from various national government agencies, local government units, academic institutions, and non-government agencies in Western Visayas.
The topics focused on information about the incidence of HIV infections in Western Visayas, prevention and treatment of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, as well as community-based and peer-led HIV interventions from private groups, and the role of academic institutions in fostering LGBTQIA+ inclusivity.
The resource speakers were Mr. Joseph Carlo Carillo, Nurse from the Department of Health-Center for Health Development Western Visayas (DOH-CHDWV); Dr. Winlove Mojica, Chief of the Infectious Dermatology Division, UP-Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Department of Dermatology; Mr. Christian Jose Simpao, Marketing Manager of Team Dugong Bughaw; and Prof. Justine Francis Bionat of the University of San Augustin - College of Liberal Arts, Science, and Education.
After the series of lecture-discussions, the audience asked for more details of the topics during the open forum.
The organizers and DOH-6 also made related health services available as part of the activity through the regional health department’s Mobile Health and Wellness Caravan inside the campus.
The services made available to the participants and interested adults and teens were mental health; sexual and reproductive health concerns; and lifestyle-related diseases. (With sources from GDP)
