A participant are seen holding a sign during World AIDS Day .
A plan by lawmakers in the entire world to require HIV patients to be implanted with microchips to stop them infecting others violates human rights and is unworkable, the national AIDS commission
The annual World AIDS Day will take place on Monday on December 1. The banner reads: "Responsible love = condom" and "Protect from AIDS, use a condom".
Young people can do their share in addressing the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and be part of the solution.In an interview, Irene Fellizar, president of Lunduyan Foundation Inc, one of the forum's sponsors, pointed out that children and young people are among the most vulnerable to HIV.
“The most critical population is this population, because this is the age when they begin to be more adventurous. Many of their dreams may not be fulfilled because of HIV,”
The two-day forum will gather young people, aged 15 to 24, from all over the country to get their views on HIV and the acquired immunodeficiency (AIDS) syndrome, and what they can do to address it.
It is sponsored by the Council for the Welfare of Children's Committee on Children and HIV and AIDS, United Nations Children's Fund, Lunduyan Foundation Inc, and the Philippine National AIDS Council.
The activity is in support of the country's 4th AIDS Medium Term Plan from 2005 to 2010, which aims to prevent the further spread of HIV and reduce its impact on people, families and communities.
Fellizar said young Filipinos have a high awareness of HIV and AIDS, but points out that this knowledge needs to be translated into actual practice or life skills to help prevent the spread of HIV.
“There's a need to continue this awareness and be able to influence their decisions in life,” she added.
She cited “signs” in the country's AIDS registry which reflect a rising trend in the incidence of HIV infections each month.
Fellizar explained that though the country has a relatively low AIDS prevalence, the cases have tripled each month since 2005.
“What is important now is that people realize that young people and children can be also part of the solutions through ethical and meaningful discussions such as this,” the advocate added.
For his part, 22-year-old Andrei Ceballos of the Kabataang Gabay sa Positibong Pamumuhay believes young adults like him are not worthless when it comes to sensitive issues like AIDS.
He said the older generation tends to see the youth as such because of the image of some school drop outs, young people hooked on drugs, and teenage pregnancies.
“I know some people think that the youth are no longer the hope of the nation, but there are some things we can do to help,” Ceballos said.
He cited a certain project in Iloilo where young people hold a radio program to discuss topics such as rape, violence against women, HIV and AIDS and how these affect their age bracket.
“We want to change the way others view us young people...That we are not sleeping on this issue,” Ceballos added in Filipino.
