Know your status: Here's where you can get free testing and treatment for HIV in the PH
Sexual health matters.
Every year, we celebrate World AIDS Day to battle the stigmas that come with getting diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. According to the World Health Organization, HIV remains a major public health issue affecting millions of people worldwide. In the Philippines alone, UNAIDS reported an estimate of 17,000 adults and children newly infected with HIV in 2020.
The national government passed a new HIV law in December 2018 that pushed for better protection against the virus, and under this, more clinics started offering free HIV testing.
Knowing your HIV status helps you make healthy decisions to prevent getting or transmitting HIV and the only way to find out if you're living with the virus is to get tested for it.
Where to get tested for free
Non-profit organization LoveYourself Inc., is expanding its reach to provide HIV-related services to more Filipinos by opening more community centers offering free testing, counseling, and treatment. Here's where you can find and contact them.
- LoveYourself Anglo - Unit 5, 3/F Anglo Building, #715-A Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City; Wed. to Sun., 12pm to 7pm; 09999309327/09062751984
- LoveYourself Welcome - 858 Blumentritt Road corner Remedios Street, Sampaloc, Manila; Wed. to Sun., 12pm to 7pm; 09672071976
- LoveYourself Victoria - 2/F Torres Bldg., 2442 Park Avenue, Pasay City; Wed. to Sun., 12pm to 7pm; 09158318715
- LoveYourself Hero - EMA Building 2nd Floor unit 5 and 6, Emilio Aguinaldo Hwy, Bacoor, Cavite; Wed. to Sun., 12pm to 7pm; (046)5377549
- LoveYourself White House - 6 A. Morales St., Camputhaw Cebu City; Wed. to Sun., 12pm to 7pm; 09278737575
- LoveYourself Athena - #31 Quirino Hiway, Amparo Subdivision, Barangay 179, North Caloocan; Wed. to Sun., 12pm to 7pm; 09673192040
- LoveYourself Bagani - 3/F NEDF Bldg, 6th Street, Barangay 7, Bacolod City; Tues. to Sat., 10am to 7pm; 09173209237
- Luxecare Starmall EDSA-Shaw - 09985501433
- Luxecare Alabang - 09688559040
The organization is also planning to open community centers in Baguio and a center for the Home of the Golden Gays, set to be finished by early 2022.
Anybody who wishes to get tested must book an appointment online first. They can also get consultations online through iCON (interactive consultation) and get medicine refills delivered straight to their homes through Xpress by LoveYourself.
LoveYourself is also revitalizing its acXess program through a mobile clinic, which will offer mobile testing and viral load pocket activations to communities.
Aside from HIV testing, screening, and counseling, LoveYourself also offers Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) pills and hormone therapy services.