MANILA, The Philippines -- HIV remains a health crisis in the country. Rising infection rates in young men who have sex with men signify a deeper challenge of vulnerable groups being behind within Philippines society. UNFPA reaches out to support these vulnerable communities using a peer-to-peer approach and has provided a seed grant and technical assistance to GentleMen Bicol, a youth organization that delivers sexual and reproductive health information and services on the remote island province of Catanduanes. GentleMen Bicol is a Y-PEER youth network affiliate that provides HIV screening to help members of the LGBTQI+ community protect their rights and access essential health services.
The island province of Catanduanes is one of the most geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas in the Philippines. On the most remote islands, health services are inadequate, leaving critical gaps for members of the LGTQI+ community.
“We train young people to fill in the gaps between health services and the community,” says Christian Mamansag from GentleMen Bicol. “We can reach the grassroots because we are using peer-to-peer education.”
He says members of LGBTIQ+ communities are hesitant to access community-based screening at their rural provincial health facilities because, on small islands, there is the risk that they might be talked about. “There is a stigma in terms of testing and a barrier between service providers and members of LGBTIQ+ communities.”
There is a stigma in terms of testing and a barrier between service providers and members of LGBTIQ+ communities.
-Christian Mamansag, GentleMen Bicol
GentleMen Bicol conducts learning sessions in partnership with local government and provincial health offices to dispel the stigma surrounding HIV. Christian talks about the struggle that members of the community have faced: “When people see a member of the LGBTIQ+ community at the health center, people sometimes assume they are HIV positive.”
Ger Evan from GentleMen Bicol says gender identities are an issue in the conservative communities where they work. “Transgender women may be discriminated against in-service facilities. That is still a major problem.”
GentleMen Bicol provides discreet HIV screenings and schedules clients of different ages and demographic profiles at staggered times. “Clients can come without fear of their confidentiality or their identity being breached.”
There are many things to work out in HIV and AIDS awareness. When we do awareness seminars we integrate sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.
-Ger Evan, GentleMen Bicol
He says health workers sometimes lack knowledge on key population groups like LGBTIQ+ and young people in Catanduanes. “There are many things to work out in HIV and AIDS awareness. When we do awareness seminars we integrate sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.”
“We are not the type of island that is liberated or open-minded: we are still in the box of religion,” he says. “That is why we keep raising awareness.”
With no treatment facility on the island, it is challenging for people living with HIV to refill their antiretroviral (ARV) medication. The connection with GentleMen Bicol is an essential lifeline of support.
GentleMen Bicol members are given training to provide HIV counseling and they support peers with mental health concerns. At the start of the pandemic, all their outreach and consultations moved from face-to-face activities to online services. “We were able to make the transition from the traditional to virtual services,” Christian says. “It actually increased the number of people who could access the information.”
GentleMen Bicol uses dating apps to reach members of LGBTIQ+ communities. “We use several dating apps like Grindr. We give information about services and then plan to meet up as restrictions are eased. We connect and talk on the dating apps.”
Younger people want sexual and reproductive health services but are unable to access them because of negative community attitudes about young people’s sexual behaviour.
-Ger Evan, GentleMen Bicol
Ger says many sexually active young people are having sex without the knowledge of the possible consequences. They are more likely to engage in unprotected sex without knowing that they might contract HIV or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). “Younger people want sexual and reproductive health services but are unable to access them because of negative community attitudes about young people’s sexual behaviour.”
GentleMen Bicol has supported these key populations by delivering supplies and health information that is adapted for their needs. The communities are often so insular that even buying condoms is stigmatized. “Clients appreciate free condoms because there is no need to go to the store to buy condoms.,” says Christian. “They are afraid of being talked about.”
This is a good model when we coordinate with the government and work with them to reach our communities. Our projects can be a dialogue.-Christian Mamansag, GentleMen Bicol
The goal is to create programs that help the community to become more resilient. Christian says the process has been consultative and a positive collaboration is driven by the needs of LGBTIQ+ communities. “This is a good model when we coordinate with the government and work with them to reach our communities. Our projects can be a dialogue.”
GentleMen Bicol works closely with the regional office of the Philippine Department of Health. Earlier this year, they coordinated a community-based screening and transported shipments of ARV medicine from the main island of Luzon to the local health authority. “People living with HIV can now get the refills in the provincial health office,” says Ger. “They do not have to go to the main island and that is a major step forward.”
The original story is found here: https://asiapacific.unfpa.org/en/stories-ph-hiv
