- Catriona Gray launches Pioneering HIV Service
- SelfCare will be initially offered to 2,000 males-having-sex-with-males (MSMs) and transgender women who are living in Metro Manila
Days before the 67th Miss Universe competition starts, Catriona Elisa M. Gray launches The LoveYourself, Inc.’s HIV self-screening program dubbed as SelfCare.
SelfCare is a bold and pioneering initiative in the country to dethrone the epidemic. The SelfCare kit enables Filipinos to have themselves screened for HIV at their own convenience and privacy.
Based on the data from the Department of Health’s Integrated HIV Behavioral and Serologic Surveillance in 2015, Gray informed, “There are still people who doesn’t go for HIV testing, because of several reasons: (1) They are ashamed to go to centers; (2) they may be afraid to be seen; and/or (3) they may have indescribable fear in having themselves tested.”
Gray further explained, “While we try hard to address these concerns through rigorous campaigns and messages, these HIV services may still not resonate to these people. Hence, we offer SelfCare, because they themselves will do the HIV screening and read the results.”
The beauty queen/ambassador is also the face for the instructional video of the HIV screening kit.
“We are providing this new HIV service for free as an alternative option for them to proactively manage their sexual health at their convenience,” LoveYourself founder and executive director Ronivin G. Pagtakhan.
“For those who screened HIV negative with SelfCare, the package includes an information about preventive measures to ensure that they are protected and stay negative,” Pagtakhan emphasized.
“Meanwhile, for those who turned out HIV positive, the package also includes contact information regarding their next steps to manage their status. There will also be a dedicated hotline (phone and online channels) where they could contact us should they have questions and concerns,” he underscored.
The organization notes that while SelfCare is 99.9% accurate as with other screening tests, the clients who have positive diagnosis have to be confirmed by a testing facility, because going to a facility for their next steps is crucial for their wellness management.
SelfCare will be initially offered to 2,000 males-having-sex-with-males (MSMs) and transgender women who are living in Metro Manila.
The project will initially run for six months, and depending on the turn out and demand for it, it will be expanded to other areas in the country.
SELF PRICK: Being the ambassador for SelfCare, Miss Universe-Philippines 2018 Catriona Gray will be demonstrating how to prick and draw a small amount of blood on your finger for the HIV screening.
