PH needs more proactive HIV response amid US aid freeze, groups say

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Amid the threat of the US government's freeze order on foreign aid, the Philippines will need a more proactive approach on addressing the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic focusing on prevention, advocacy groups said Thursday.

According to LoveYourself Inc. founder and executive director Vinn Pagtakhan, 40 of their staff and the delivery of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and HIV self-testing kits have already affected.

PrEP is a medication used to reduce the risk of getting HIV.

"Libre naman pa rin 'yung mga testing kits at mga commodities natin — condoms, lubes, PrEP, testing kits — libre pa rin kaya lang malaking percentage ng mga clients kasi, 8,000 sa kanila, umaasa sa delivery natin," Pagtakhan told GMA News Online in an interview.

"We have 72 clinics in the Philippines, but ibang market pa rin kasi 'to kasi I believe sila 'yung mga most at risk kasi sila 'yung mga takot makita (publicly)," he added.

Pagtakhan said the freeze affects HIV prevention measures as many programs rely on foreign aid.

"If i-pause natin sila (programs) dahil walang funding from external aid, maaapektuhan nito 'yung pag-resolba natin sa (HIV) epidemic. Oo, bababa ang cases but for the wrong reasons dahil wala nang taong nagpapa-test," the doctor said.

"That's why bababa ang cases natin dahil majority ng mga programs natin on prevention naka-rely masyado on foreign aid," he added.

Amid the challenges, Pagtakhan assured they are coordinating with the national government to resolve the matter.

"We're working with the government, nakikipag-usap tayo sa kanila, to look at possible options para ma-provide natin 'to nang libre. Hopefully, maka-create ng solution as soon as possible para ma-provide uli natin nang libre 'yung mga services," he said.

While still faced with the circumstances, the executive director stressed how important it is to step up its support HIV combination prevention through the following suggestions:

• Expanding PrEP access – including the possibility of bringing in long-acting injectable PrEP;
• Funding awareness campaigns to ensure more people are educated and empowered to protect themselves;
• Strengthening viral load monitoring to ensure that clients who are not covered by Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) reimbursements still have access to essential HIV care;
• Ensuring a seamless supply of antiretrovirals (ARVs), medication that prevents HIV from replicating in the body, and their equitable distribution across the country.

"We're very optimistic that our government will be supportive about this kasi ang laking tulong naman nila sa treatment. Hopefully, let's focus on prevention now and health promotion. Ayun po napaka-importanteng direction natin sa Pilipinas," he said.

Meanwhile, LGBT group Bahaghari earlier called on the national government to increase the budget for healthcare and support for production of commodities and medication that can help in addressing the HIV epidemic.

"Instead of mis-prioritization, complacency, and reliance on precarious US foreign aid, Marcos Jr. must urgently INCREASE domestic funding for healthcare and support the affected organizations providing lifesaving care and service for PLHIVs in the Philippines," Bahaghari said in a statement.

"As a long-term measure, we challenge the Marcos admin to pursue a program of national industrialization. By developing our economy beyond the simple extraction of raw materials and semi-processing, and allowing for the production of goods and machines outside of the US’ monopoly, we can pave the way for the independent production of essential healthcare materials — including HIV commodities," they added.

Bahaghari believes the Filipinos have the capacity to stand on their own, with the NGOs and foundations as proof.

"As the NGOs affected by the USAID pullout have proven, the Philippines has no shortage of skilled workers and volunteers capable of addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic, providing consultation services and safe transition mechanisms for transgender individuals, and promoting people’s reproductive health. We have the people," it said. 

"What we need is a government that will prioritize and fund them. The health and safety of Filipinos should not be decided by a foreign power. Filipinos’ health must be in Filipinos’ hands."

A top official earlier said that they are hopeful funding from the United States will continue amid the 90-day foreign aid freeze ordered by Trump pending a review of efficiencies and consistency.

According to Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, while the country currently receives “big” support from the United States through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), it will have to wait for the final orders of Trump.

Amid the aid freeze, the Department of Health said the delivery of services by the agency remains to be “unimpeded,”

“Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa has been facilitating multilateral arrangements with various countries to support health systems strengthening activities towards universal health care (UHC) for many conditions of all Filipinos. The delivery of health services by DOH and the expansion of PhilHealth benefit packages continues unimpeded,” the agency said in a response to GMA News Online.

— LA, GMA Integrated News