POPCOM starts HEART campaign on Valentine’s Day

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO— The Commission on Population (POPCOM) celebrated Valentine’s Day with its H.E.A.R.T campaign aimed to create awareness on the increasing number of HIV/ AIDS victims and teenage pregnancy in the country.

The campaign takes on the H.E.A.R.T. issues of adolescents and teens such as: H – HIV/ AIDS, E- Early Sexual Encounter, A – Adolescent Sexuality, R –Reproductive Health, and T – Teenage Pregnancy.

The Department of Health reported in December 2016 through the HIV and AIDS Registry of the Philippines (HARP) that there were 750 new HIV antibody sero-positive individuals. Most (96 percent) of the cases were male. More than half belong to the 25 to 34 year age group while 29 percent were youth aged 15 to 24 year s.

In 2016, the DOH recorded 9,264 cases of HIV/AIDS, including 1,969 deaths. On February 3 this year, before the week of Heart’s Day celebration, a study of the National Institute of Health (NIH) at the University of the Philippines-Manila revealed that a more aggressive Thai strain of HIV was seen among infected Filipinos and this could be one of the reasons for the continuous increase in new infections.

On the other hand, the most recent Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study 4 (YAFS 4) further studies showed that in 2013, 13.7

percent i ng.

This is more than half of increase from 2002 (6.2 percent). Also, according to YAFS 4 further studies, the average age of first sexual encounter in the country is 17 years old for both male and female. Most of these encounters happened at home when parents are away. Some of the YAFS 4 papers cite the strong relationship of Internet in early sex among youth.

YAFS 4 papers discuss the six areas of H.E.A.R.T. The 17 regions in the country published their own studies with respect to the most pressing issue in their areas. All the POPCOM regional offices in the country are set for an information blast on social media and in schools on February 14 through an infographic stating the most significant data about HIV/ AIDS, Early Sexual Encounter, Adolescent Sexuality, Reproductive Health, and Teenage Pregnancy.

In 2012, the Supreme Court (SC) of the Philippines ruled that it was constitutional to implement the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law, meaning that Filipinos including the youth have a right to family planning services and free contraception. However, the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) given by SC to some of the provisions restricts the recertification of all modern contraceptives. The TRO encourages more number of HIV/AIDs victims and faster rate of teenage pregnancy, as well as the effects on unplanned pregnancy of mothers.

The agency hopes to influence the adolescents of this generation to become aware of the possible consequences of sexual encounter and avoid HIV/ AIDS. of females 15 to 19 year-old have begun childbear