In the Philippines there have been 60,000 confirmed HIV cases beginning in 1984 with the first case of HIV infection. Of the total, more than 30,000 are from the 25-34 year age group while 17,000 were youth age 15-24. Between 1984 and 2012 the number of new HIV cases totaled approximately 10,000 in that 28 year span. Over the last six years from 2013 through 2018 there have been nearly 50,000 total diagnosed cases in the Philippines. The prevailing mode of transmission of HIV among Filipinos continues to be males who have sex with males (MSM). Please join us in educating others about the challenge of HIV and our youth. 

Many people view HIV and AIDS in the same light, and therefore have the underlying prejudice that someone is HIV-positive could die tomorrow. This is not true. It is essential to distinguish between HIV and AIDS.

AIDS is the fourth stage of the disease caused by infection with a type of virus called HIV: H– uman I– mmune deficiency V– irus HIV is not one virus but a family of similar viruses. AIDS is a medical diagnosis for the combination of illnesses which results from weakness of the immune system due to infection with HIV. A– cquired I– mmune D– eficiency S– yndrome It is a condition characterized by a combination of signs and symptoms, caused by HIV which attacks and weakens the body’s immune system, making the afflicted individual susceptible to other life threatening infections and cancers. 

How HIV weakens the Immune System?

Our blood contains white and red blood cells. Normally the white cells fight off and kill and germs which enter our bodies. They do this by eating up the germs and by producing chemicals called antibodies which kill them. In this way our bodies fight off many different germs and we stay healthy. Sometimes we have symptoms of illness when our white cells are fighting the germs, but usually the white cells win and we get better. HIV weakens our immune system by entering and destroying our white cells. As more and more white cells are killed, the body becomes less and less able to fight off the many different germs which live around and in our bodies all the time. After many years the white cells are so damaged that these germs, which normally do not cause problems, can cause deadly diseases. People living with AIDS eventually die from one of these diseases which their bodies cannot resist.

How does a person become infected with HIV?

HIV can enter the body in these four ways:

1. By having unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person (having sexual intercourse with multiple partners might give a chance for a person to acquire the disease, why? Because you’ll never know who has HIV)
2. By male to male sexual contact
3. By an infected mother to her unborn child- through breastfeeding
4. By transfusion of infected blood; or by infected blood in or on needles, syringes or other instruments. ex: blood transfusion; unsterile tattoo needle

What you should know:

ABSTINENCE – the safest sex is NO SEX! That’s the best way to protect yourself against HIV Infection. The longer the young people can wait before sex, the less their chances of becoming HIV- positive.

CAN AIDS be Cured?

People say that there is no cure for AIDS. We believe that monogamous marriage and extramarital abstinence – the profound plan of God for sex – will not wipe out AIDS instantly. But it will eventually. At this point in time, there is NO CURE for HIV Infection. A great deal of money and time are spent throughout the world to find an effective, safe vaccine that could be available someday. A growing number of HIV drugs are available. These antiretroviral drugs are prescribed in combinations and have proved to be very effective if used correctly. These drugs, however, cannot cure HIV infection. It can only slow down or stall the HI-virus’ destruction of the body’s immune system. More than cure for HIV or AIDS, the heart of True Love Waits is that even if someone does cure all sexual diseases at some point in time. There is still no cure for a broken heart, broken relationships or broken people. Sexual Purity is the idea that will protect people 100%.

The TRUTH about CONDOMS

The safe sex advice has been passed around for some time. This refers to using condoms during sexual contact. Safe means free from risk. Let’s check if using the condom is really safe.

1. 1. 1. According to studies, even if a condom is used correctly and does not break, it has 10-25% failure rate.
      2. Latex, the material condoms are made of, is not always made perfectly. The materials undergo a weaving process. Manufacturing defects include holes in the material that will allow microorganisms like the HI Virus to pass through.
      3. The condom is not actually risk-free. It just reduces the chances.
      4. And there is no condom for your heart that can protect you from pain, hurt, regret, shame and broken heart. There is no condom for your Heart!