Rising HIV cases not youth's fault — advocates

A high number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases in the Philippines is not the fault of the young people, according to reproductive rights advocates.

Recent reports of a 13-year-old diagnosed with HIV in Palawan sparked urgent concerns, prompting increased screenings in the province over the weekend.

The 13-year-old became the youngest in Palawan to get infected with HIV through sexual transmission.

This as HIV cases among young adults remain high, with 391 cases recorded in the 15 to 24 age group.

However, for Palawan-based non-governmental organization Roots of Health, "the rise in HIV cases is not a moral failing of our youth — it is a failure of the adults responsible for their protection."

Instead of casting judgment on teenagers, the Roots of Health said "we should instead focus on what our communities can do to protect them."

Among its recommendations is to provide comprehensive sexuality education to young Filipinos, ensure access to condoms without judgment, and encourage youth-friendly HIV screening, among others.

"The solutions are clear: institutionalize comprehensive sexuality education and fund schools and train teachers in rolling it out; make condoms and [Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis] more accessible to young people; ensure stigma-free adolescent-friendly testing and treatment," the group said.

"HIV is still incurable. Silence and stigma are deadly. We can't let discomfort around sex and HIV stand in the way of truly caring for our children. This is our shared responsibility," it added.

Further, the Roots of Health said it will soon launch a Department of Health (DOH)-accredited Treatment Hub designed to provide stigma-free and confidential care for young people.

Data from DOH estimated that the number of people living with HIV reached 215,000 in 2024.