NYC sets aside P5M to boost youth-led HIV awareness, anti-stigma drive
Community-based HIV screening in Muntinlupa (Photo from Muntinlupa Reproductive Health and Wellness Clinic Facebook page)
The National Youth Commission (NYC) has allocated P5 million to expand youth-led programs on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) awareness and stigma reduction.
NYC Chairperson Joseph Francisco Ortega said on Friday, Jan. 30, that the commission is taking an active role in national HIV policy discussions to strengthen community-based interventions focused on the youth sector.
The NYC is an attached agency of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Ortega said the commission continues to coordinate with the Department of Health (DOH) as well as the Committee on Health and the Philippine National AIDS Council to ensure that youth perspectives are included in HIV prevention, education, and response efforts.
In a milestone for youth representation and inclusion, Ortega expressed solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community as he became the first NYC chairperson to join the Quezon City Pride Parade held at the University of the Philippines (UP).
To further combat HIV-related stigma, Ortega said the NYC is partnering with an AIDS organization to roll out a nationwide anti-stigma campaign.
The BYC reiterated its vision of a “makabayang kabataan” (patriotic youth) who are actively engaged in community-building and responsive to health and social challenges.
For its part, the DILG said the NYC’s initiatives are aligned with the national government’s priorities on public health, inclusion, and youth empowerment.
It added that mobilizing young leaders is vital in addressing HIV stigma, misinformation, and access to services at the grassroots level.