HIV needs awareness

Pia Alonzo Worthzback

To the most beautiful woman in the universe,

When you said you wanted to increase HIV awareness in the Philippines, I felt like I won PhP100M in the lottery. As soon as you finished answering, I posted in my Facebook wall “It is true, beauty and HIV go hand in hand”. Our country is one of the few countries in the world with a rising HIV incidence. The major mode of transmission of HIV in the Philippines is through sexual contact. Most people who get HIV may have an unconscious desire to validate their beauty by the number of sexual partners they attract. On the other hand, beauty is a powerful tool to prevent the further spread of the infection.

A lot of countries whose HIV rates have stabilized have used beauty in their campaign against HIV. In Singapore, posters about sexually-transmitted infections and HIV are colorful and non-threatening in comparison to the commonly black and red gloomy posters we see here in the Philippines. Beautiful celebrities abroad have appeared in HIV campaigns to positively educate people and not to scare them. Scaring people through gory images and distressing messages creates more stigma. The more there is stigma, the more it is harder to educate people and convince them to avail of health services such as HIV testing. However, people in all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds can relate to beauty. That’s why when appropriately used, beauty can be a powerful tool in public health. And you can be the perfect personification of this beauty.

We health workers who chose to remain here in the Philippines pray very hard that you will not forget your HIV awareness advocacy which you announced to the world on that day you were crowned as Miss Universe. We badly need your help. We need someone to highlight the importance of prevention, an aspect of the HIV program that has not been given too much attention in the Philippines. While the government and many NGOs already support HIV detection and treatment, very few focus on the value of preventive education and communication, which you have identified in one of your interviews to be an integral part of nation building. You said you will use your voice for causes that are timely and relevant. This is timely and relevant because no one is effectively talking to our people on how they can avoid acquiring the virus. But now you are here and the chance to stop this epidemic becomes more of a reality than a dream. Moreover, speaking up not only about HIV testing and treatment but also about ways to prevent getting the virus will also help prevent other sexually-transmitted infections from spreading. Sexually-transmitted infections can cause infertility, chronic pain, birth defects, and cancer. So please do not forget to mention HIV prevention strategies when you talk about HIV testing and treatment. By doing so, it will be hitting many birds with one stone. There is an old saying that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. It is still true until this modern day.

Our country also needs someone who will inspire all organizations to work together. I am sure with your call, accompanied by your disarming smile and charm, you can help unite agencies both from the public and private sectors to work in unison towards one goal of putting an end to HIV-AIDS in the Philippines, and maybe even in the world. With your desire to be socially relevant and to be a form of beauty that is relatable and reachable, the government and sociocivic organizations may have the chance to finally relay important HIV prevention messages that they have failed to effectively deliver for decades to the masses through you.

It may surprise you, but you have started a new era in the HIV program in the Philippines. Now, more Filipinos are aware that HIV is not a myth in our country. It is here and it is claiming the lives of our youth and destroying our families. We cannot let this go on and affect the productive members of our society because our economy will not be able to sustain giving free antiretrovirals and services when HIV cases reach into millions. In addition, our healthcare facilities will be overwhelmed. But I can imagine the millions of teens and young adults who will not need special medical care because they will follow you when you teach them about self-respect, responsibility, monogamy, and consistent and correct condom use. You are the best person in this time to bridge the gap in the education of our youth. People will listen to you because you are a genuine example of someone who has discipline and determination. Everyone knows your story. You have in your hands the power to help save our country from a health and economic disaster.

I will constantly pray for your safety as you fulfill your duties as Miss Universe. I, and my fellow advocates, will support you. There will be more obstacles but we are with you in your meaningful journey towards beauty and relevance.