MABALACAT CITY — This city will host one of the HIV free testing centers to be established nationwide on Nov. 23 in commemoration of World AIDS Day.
The center here will be located at the Lakan Community Center in BArangay Lakandula.
This, amid a report from the Department of Health confi rming 1,111 new HIV cases last July, 51 of which covered people aged 25-34.
The free HIV testing is part of the project being launched by LoveYourself, Inc. and the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), together with 10 community-based organizations nationwide to mark World AIDS Day, although this day is observed every Dec. 1.
“Dubbed as “Know Your Status (KYS) and Play or #KYSandPlay2019, this national HIV testing day entails a free, fast and confidential HIV test at 19 test locations nationwide for registrants to this link: bit.ly/KYSandPlay2019,” the organizers said in a statement.
It said “this collaboration with PETA aims to strengthen the awareness campaigns of community-based organizations through highlighting the #ActingOnHIV drive of the theater institution.”
Organizers said there will be five test locations in the National Capital Region, four in Luzon including one in Mabalacat, seven in the Visayas, and three in Mindanao.
The community-based organizations that joined forces for the project include Aves Love and Light, Bangaw Federation, Bisdak Pride, Decent Image of South Signal Association, Family Planning Organization of the Philippines – Iloilo Chapter, Juan Positive Movement, Kagay-an PLUS, LoveYourself, Inc., Mujer-LGBT Organization, Olympus Society of Davao, and Project H4 (Health. Help. Hope. Happiness).
