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GMA Network
6 hours ago
- Health
- GMA Network
99% protection vs HIV: What is Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis or PrEP and where can you get it?
The Philippines is currently facing a sharp rise in HIV cases, with a staggering 500% increase reported among the youth. Based on the latest data from the Department of Health, there are 148,831 recorded cases of HIV in the Philippines. As the country faces a surge in HIV cases, DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa has urged the public to use condoms, lubricants, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication to reduce the risk of HIV infection. In a previous interview with GMA News Online, Dr. Deano Reyes, an LGBTQ+ health doctor and the medical director of Hara Clinic, a holistic gender and sexual health clinic, said PrEP is among the most effective ways to stay protected against HIV. 'There is this medication called PrEP where you take one pill every day, and if you take it properly, it has a 99% protection against HIV,' Reyes explained. In PrEP, patients regularly take one pill every day. There is also an event-driven PrEP, where patients take two pills of PrEP between two and 24 hours before they anticipate having sex. But it's important to remember that while PrEP offers 99% protection against HIV, PrEP only protects against HIV. It doesn't offer protection from other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like chlamydia, syphilis, or gonorrhea. (Condoms are only 95% effective at protecting against HIV and other STIs) In the Philippines, the primary PrEP medicine is a combination of two antiviral drugs: Emtricitabine (FTC) and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF). According to LoveYourself Inc., a non-government organization in the Philippines that offers free HIV testing, counseling, and treatment, PrEP works by blocking HIV enzymes, thereby preventing the virus from establishing an infection. In the country, PrEP is commonly known by its brand name Truvada, and is taken before potential exposure to HIV. The recommended dosage typically ranges from 100mg of Emtricitabine and 150mg of Tenofovir to 200mg of Emtricitabine and 300mg of Tenofovir, depending on the patient's age and body weight. Where to get PrEP? PrEP is available in some medical facilities in the Philippines. Here is where you can avail it: Love Yourself Inc.: Love Yourself offers free PrEP. To avail of PrEP, simply sign up using the forms available on their social media account. Facebook. My Hub Cares: My Hub Cares is another medical institution that also offers free PrEP. You can avail of their medicine by going to their clinics in Pasay, Ortigas and Alabang or you can have it delivered to your home. Website. Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines (SHIP) - SHIP is a non-government organization that also offers free PrEP through their Sail Clinics located in Makati and Cavite. Facebook. Private health care facilities - PrEP is also offered in private health clinics in the Philippines, such as Hara Clinic, Medi Prime Clinic and Pulse Clinic Manila, among others. Get tested, stay protected. — LA, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
6 days ago
- General
- GMA Network
Here's where you can get tested for HIV in the Philippines
Human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is a prevailing health issue in the Philippines, with the number of HIV cases among young Filipinos increasing by 500 percent. With this surge, the Department of Health (DOH) requested the declaration of a national public health emergency for HIV. "Five hundred percent increase po tayo ng HIV cases sa mga edad 15 hanggang 25. In fact, ang pinakabatang na-diagnose natin ay batang 12-anyos sa probinsya ng Palawan," DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa said in a video message posted on Facebook. "Sa datos natin tayo na ang pinakamataas na new cases sa Western Pacific Region. Ang nakakatakot lang maraming new cases sa ating kabataan," he added. Based on the agency's latest data, there are 148,831 recorded cases of HIV in the Philippines. As the country sees a rise in HIV cases, the DOH urged the public to get tested, which can be done in various health and medical facilities in the country. Here are some of the medical institutions where you can get tested for HIV: Social hygiene clinics In a previous interview with GMA News Online, Dr. Deano Reyes, an LGBTQ+ health doctor and the medical director of Hara Clinic, a holistic gender and sexual health clinic in Pasig City recommended getting HIV tests at social hygiene clinics, where services are offered for free. "First, you can contact your local government unit and ask where the nearest social hygiene clinic within your area is. Social hygiene clinics are government-run facilities where they can conduct testing like HIV and also link you to care," he said. NGO Clinics Aside from social hygiene clinics, there are also a lot of non-government organizations that provide free HIV testing and even medications. Among them is LoveYourself, a non-government organization in the Philippines that provides free HIV testing, counseling, and treatment in the Philippines. You can get their free HIV testing in their clinics located in Mandaluyong City, Caloocan City, Bacolod City, Baguio City, Bacoor City, Parañaque City, Pasay City, Manila, and Cebu City. Another NGO Clinic that provides affordable HIV care is Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines or SHIP. They offer free HIV testing and treatment through their SAIL Clinic in Makati City. Government health facilities Government health facilities such as the San Lazaro Hospital, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), and Philippine General Hospital (PGH) under their SAGIP unit also offer free HIV testing. If you are a Quezon City resident, the Quezon City Health Department is offering a free HIV self-testing kit for those who want a more confidential approach to knowing their HIV status. Private healthcare providers HIV testing is also offered in private healthcare facilities and hospitals, including Hara Clinic, Pulse Clinic Manila, St. Luke's Medical Center, and The Medical City in Ortigas. —MGP, GMA Integrated News
