Here's where you can get tested for HIV in the Philippines

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Human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is a prevailing health issue in the Philippines, with the number of HIV cases among young Filipinos increasing by 500 percent.

With this surge, the Department of Health (DOH) requested the declaration of a national public health emergency for HIV.

"Five hundred percent increase po tayo ng HIV cases sa mga edad 15 hanggang 25. In fact, ang pinakabatang na-diagnose natin ay batang 12-anyos sa probinsya ng Palawan," DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa said in a video message posted on Facebook.

"Sa datos natin tayo na ang pinakamataas na new cases sa Western Pacific Region. Ang nakakatakot lang maraming new cases sa ating kabataan," he added.

Based on the agency's latest data, there are 148,831 recorded cases of HIV in the Philippines.

As the country sees a rise in HIV cases, the DOH urged the public to get tested, which can be done in various health and medical facilities in the country.

Here are some of the medical institutions where you can get tested for HIV:

Social hygiene clinics

In a previous interview with GMA News Online, Dr. Deano Reyes, an LGBTQ+ health doctor and the medical director of Hara Clinic, a holistic gender and sexual health clinic in Pasig City recommended getting HIV tests at social hygiene clinics, where services are offered for free.

"First, you can contact your local government unit and ask where the nearest social hygiene clinic within your area is. Social hygiene clinics are government-run facilities where they can conduct testing like HIV and also link you to care," he said.

NGO Clinics

Aside from social hygiene clinics, there are also a lot of non-government organizations that provide free HIV testing and even medications.

Among them is LoveYourself, a non-government organization in the Philippines that provides free HIV testing, counseling, and treatment in the Philippines.

You can get their free HIV testing in their clinics located in Mandaluyong City, Caloocan City, Bacolod City, Baguio City, Bacoor City, Parañaque City, Pasay City, Manila, and Cebu City.

Another NGO Clinic that provides affordable HIV care is Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines or SHIP.

They offer free HIV testing and treatment through their SAIL Clinic in Makati City.

Government health facilities

Government health facilities such as the San Lazaro Hospital, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), and Philippine General Hospital (PGH) under their SAGIP unit also offer free HIV testing.

If you are a Quezon City resident, the Quezon City Health Department is offering a free HIV self-testing kit for those who want a more confidential approach to knowing their HIV status.

Private healthcare providers

HIV testing is also offered in private healthcare facilities and hospitals, including Hara Clinic, Pulse Clinic Manila, St. Luke's Medical Center, and The Medical City in Ortigas. —MGP, GMA Integrated News