The Philippines has received 86,000 HIV viral load testing cartridges from the United States government in commemoration of World AIDS Day on Thursday, Dec. 1.
US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson led the handover of the HIV viral load testing cartridges worth P85 million or $1.5 million at the Barangay 435 Gymnasium in Sampaloc, Manila.
Carlson was joined by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Director Michelle Lang-Alli, Manila City Councilor for Health Louisito Chua, and members of the people living with HIV (PLHIV) community.
"These laboratory tests are further proof that the US government is committed to working alongside the Department of Health (DOH), the community of Filipinos living with HIV, and local governments like Manila City to ensure that people living with HIV in the country have equitable access to a viral load test," Carlson said in her speech.
"With this donation, we aim to amplify the hopeful message of U equals U: that undetectable is indeed untransmittable," she said.
This year's theme of the US government's World AIDS Day is "Putting Ourselves to the Test: Achieving Equity to End HIV."
“I am confident that the DOH will continue to listen to the community and follow the science to implement this and other evidence-based approaches to end the HIV epidemic,” Carlson said.
The US envoy also noted that tests are vital to helping the country move closer to achieving its goal of controlling one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in the world.
The country aims to achieve the target to end HIV-AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Hontiveros, meanwhile, said the Philippines is not on track to achieve the said target due to the low level of awareness, the impact of Covid-19, and systemic inequalities.
“Because of this assistance the US has extended us, our DOH can guarantee access to viral load testing of our PLHIVs... Viral testing is essential to combat the stigma faced by our PHLIVs community,” said the senator.
"We are filled with so much hope that we will no longer have to lose our loved ones to HIV and that we will be able to carry on with our lives, free from worry and stigma," Network Plus co-convenor Elena Felix said on behalf of the PLHIV community.
The cartridges, which were secured through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and USAID, will be distributed to HIV treatment hubs and facilities in the country.
It is expected to cover the country's viral load testing requirements for all patients undergoing HIV treatment for one year.
The US government has already provided over P1 billion in assistance for HIV prevention, case finding, and treatment interventions in the country since December 2020.