- Reported HIV cases have remained high in the Philippines.
- Durex’s Always Come Prepared campaign aims to encourage everyone to protect themselves from the threat of HIV.
- Radio celebrity endorsers and an HIV-testing advocacy group support the campaign.
Cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus or also known as HIV have slowed down globally. However, here in the Philippines, official data from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) show that there has been 174 percent increase in HIV cases since 2010. A whopping 12,000 new HIV cases are reported in 2017, with an estimated 61,000 to 76,000 Filipinos living with HIV.
As a response to these alarming numbers, Durex, the world’s leading condom brand launched its Always Come Prepared campaign that conveys the message of protecting one’s self from the threat of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
“There is an urgent and pressing need to curb the infection. While the rest of the world has decreasing rates, we are going the opposite way. This is something that is very alarming,” said Karol Canlas, Brand Manager of Durex Philippines.
The campaign also aims to bring knowledge and understanding about the threat of HIV in a way that is more understandable and easier to absorb by the general public especially the young adults.
“Contrary to the global rate of new HIV cases, which has been decreasing by 18 percent, the Philippines sings a different tune. There is need to ring the alarm bells, to bring the conversation of HIV to more Filipinos in a more understandable way,” said Dr. Louie Ocampo, Country Director of UNAIDS in the Philippines.
The Always Come Prepared campaign will have the trio of Boys Night Out- Sam YG, Toni Tony and Slick Rick as advocates, together with HIV-testing advocacy group Love Youself and UNAIDS.
