The Red Whistle and Project Headshot Clinic launch #EndAids2030 campaign
December 1 is World's AIDS Day. Amid the pandemic, several organizations and advocates are still relentlessly working on spreading more awareness on HIV, urging people to get tested, fighting to end discrimination, and upholding the rights of people living with HIV.
Tony Labrusca and Katarina Rodriguez for the Red Whistle and Project Headshot Clinic's #EndAIDS2030 campaign / Source: @headshotclinic (IG) and (FB)
In the Philippines, The Red Whistle organization is among the various advocacy groups actively working on ending AIDS and supporting those living with HIV and AIDS since 2007.
The Red Whistle works closely with partner organizations including the Joint United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), the AIDS Society of the Philippines, Project Headshot Clinic, and many others.
They use pop culture and the arts as a means to change people's mindset and share important information and messages to the youth about HIV and AIDS.
The Red Whistle, together with Project Headshot Clinic, has an annual World's AIDS Day photo campaign, which mostly features celebrities and influencers who support their advocacy.
For the year 2020, the theme for The Red Whistle and Project Headshot Clinic's campaign is #EndAIDS2030.
In their social media posts, The Red Whistle and Project Headshot Clinic explained the inspiration behind this year's campaign theme.
“In 2030, we envision a world free from AIDS-related deaths, HIV-related stigma and discrimination, and increased and improved access to HIV-related services. But this can only happen if we act!”
Among the advocates featured in this year's campaign are actor Tony Labrusca, Miss Universe-Philippines 2020 First Runner-Up Ysabella Ysmael, Miss World-Philippines 2018 and actress Katarina Rodriguez and photographer Niccolo Cosme.
Aside from the photo campaign, The Red Whistle also have other virtual events lined up until December 6, as part of their #EndAIDS2030 Festival.
Their virtual events include the launch of Project Headshot Clinic's annual photos, HIV awareness webinars, a forum on harm reduction, the Mabaya online book launch with “Palabas Tayo,” and a twitter rally with Doc Gia Sison.
Moreover, aside from their #EndAIDS2030 campaign, The Red Whistle has also partnered with UNAIDS, TLF-SHARE, MapBeks, and Angkas for their Oplan #ARVAyanihan initiative.
Oplan #ARVAyanihan is a free antiretroviral (ARV) refill delivery service that helps people living with HIV and AIDS get their ARV refills on time.
According to the World Health Organization there are approximately 38,000,000 people living with HIV in 2019 and 1,700,000 of them were newly infected.
Also, in 2019, the UNAIDS reported that the Philippines has the fastest-rising number of HIV cases in the world.
This is why despite the many new difficulties that were born out of the pandemic and the lockdown, HIV and AIDS awareness and prevention remain an important mission for Filipinos to prioritize, especially in the next 10 years.
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You might also want to read about why advocates believe art is an important tool in HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.