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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Metro Manila devider QC records 421 HIV cases from January to May 2025

QC records 421 HIV cases from January to May 2025

Published Jun 8, 2025 09:58 pm
A total of 421 new Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases were recorded in Quezon City from January to May 2025.
A total of 2.43 percent increase compared to the 411 cases during the same period in 2024, according to updated figures from the city’s health department.
Of the 421 cases this year, 149 individuals (35%) belong to the 15-24 age group, with 40% of those identified as students, prompting urgent calls for youth-centered awareness, testing, and treatment initiatives.
“With the significant increase of cases among ages 15 to 24, we make sure that all of them are receiving the treatment they need in our city’s Social Hygiene Clinics,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
Quezon City has also stepped up its testing programs, from January to May 2025, over 21,000 individuals were tested for HIV.
A total of 16.7 percent higher than last year, continuing a consistent upward trend in the last three years.
The city maintains a growing network of Social Hygiene and Sundown Clinics, offering free and confidential services including HIV testing, PrEP, PEP, ART, and STI screening.
“We are strengthening our testing capacities so that we will be able to find those with HIV and link them to treatment,” Quezon City Epidemiologist Dr. Rolando Cruz said.
“Because more tests mean more people are aware of their status, and that allows us to respond faster. The first step in fighting any epidemic is information,” he added.
Five of the city’s six districts are already covered, with Klinika Talipapa in District 6 set to open in 2026.
Innovative solutions like Klinika Eastwood’s “Drive, Park, and Test” program—where clients can get tested without leaving their cars—make services more accessible and discreet.
Meanwhile, the Quezon City Service Delivery Network (SDN) ensures that newly diagnosed individuals are referred to treatment facilities and supported with counseling, adherence programs, and community care.
Meanwhile, the city government is intensifying its youth-focused initiatives, such as Hakdaw Kabataan, a partnership with the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), and the HIV & AIDS Support House (HASH).
The program trained over 60 youth volunteers in 2024 and helped test 1,940 people that same year through peer-to-peer campaigns.
Parent and teacher orientations, along with school-based HIV education and on-campus testing, are being rolled out to build awareness early and reduce stigma.
“I am calling on all young QCitizens to be part of this advocacy. This fight cannot be won without you,” Belmonte said:
“You are not just the most affected, you are also our most powerful weapon. By stepping up, speaking out, and getting tested, you are helping build a healthier, more livable, and stigma-free Quezon City,” she added.

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