HIV-AIDS advocacy group, LoveYourself, Inc., calls on groups and individuals to join its free, anonymous, and fast community-based HIV screening on 26 November (Sunday) at Victoria Court Malate in Manila in time for the World’s AIDS Day commemoration.
Dubbed as #LoveSquad, LoveYourself encourages interested groups and individuals, who are seeking life-saving medical intervention like HIV screening, to register at go.loveyourself.ph/lovesquad.
LoveYourself Executive Director Ronivin G. Pagtakhan said “We are getting more aggressive in our strategies to reach the untapped populations for HIV screening, education and other interventions.”
Pagtakhan pointed out, “The incidences of HIV infection already reached 30 individuals per day according to latest DOH data, and that is something we want to see reversing the soonest.”
“This HIV screening day will serve both groups and individuals, and we promise, as always, to ensure utmost confidentiality and promptness of procedure to best protect and serve our clients,” Pagtakhan underlined.
#LoveSquad is completely anonymous because only a code and contact information are given. It eliminates the filling out of lengthy identification forms leading to reduced screening period and increased efficiency.
Relatively, #LoveSquad will be using 3rd generation rapid test kits that only a small pinprick and drop of blood will be needed. Thus, the waiting time of the results will only take 15-20 minutes from the time of pricking.
Over the course of the HIV screening, #LoveSquad counselors will also provide information on safer sex practices to lower the risk of contracting the virus, and an explanation on the test results.
Groups and individuals who will sign up at go.loveyourself.ph/lovesquad will just need to arrive on the said testing venue between 10:00 a.m. -7:00 p.m. to avail of the free, anonymous, and fast community-based HIV screening.
The #LoveSquad is also LoveYourself’s contribution to the commemoration of World AIDS Day, apart from its major participation in holding the first Love Gala -the Asia’s Premier and Awards event which entails the pioneer Ripple Awards for outstanding HIV and AIDS movers in the Philippines and Asia.
#LoveSquad is supported by DOH- Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc., Blued, Victoria Court, and Save the Children.
For more details on LoveYourself’s services, individuals may visit the group’s official website at www.loveyourself.ph or follow and like its social media channels: Facebook- @loveyourself.ph, Twitter- @loveyourselfph, and Instagram- @loveyourself.ph.
