In Oblation Run, UP fratmen call for community approach vs HIV/AIDS

Masked and naked members of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity on Friday called for ending the stigma against people living with HIV/AIDS.

In their annual Oblation Run, around 20 fraternity members ran naked around a portion of the University of the Philippines' Manila campus before gathering at the Rizal Hall steps, holding up placards advocating for HIV testing, an end to discrimination, and universal healthcare.

Their fraternity brothers at UP Diliman staged their own Oblation Run last February to call for an end to attacks on the media and press freedom. 

Tracing its roots to 1977, during the Marcos regime, the Oblation Run has been used by the fraternity to highlight relevant issues and has over the years become an anticipated event.

This time, APO called for a community approach against HIV/AIDS. 

"It is the goal of this year’s Oblation Run to encourage productive discussions on HIV/AIDS – a vital step towards reversing the trend of this epidemic in the Philippines," the APO said.

A free and confidential testing booth was also set up at the campus as part of the campaign.

At least 38 new HIV and AIDS cases are reported daily in the Philippines this year, according to the Department of Health. This is more than the 32 cases reported daily in 2018, and more than double the 16 per day cases in 2014. 

The number of cases is running into the thousands this year, including many young people aged 15 to 24.

"Their message was very strong. It signifies a unified voice in the university that they should also be part of the advocacy," said Ico Rodulfo Johnson, who runs a Project Red Ribbon, a foundation that supports more than 5,000 Filipinos living with HIV.

Though he stressed the importance of partnering with learning institutions to help their cause, he said sending a message is just a part of their advocacy that should be sustainable in its entirety.

He said the advocacy against the "national emergency" should include pushing for reforms in healthcare and policies and programs geared towards breaking the stigma against people living with HIV.

Johnson encouraged university students to get tested.

"...[A]ng HIV test ay libre lang at napaksimple and very confidential. It's an actual booth where they can really see na ang dali-dali lang ng HIV test at hindi dapat katakutan," he told GMA News Online.

"Even the HIV test has a stigma, we have to break the stigma," he said. — DVM, GMA News