Binibining Pilipinas Universe Catriona Gray went to Puerto Princesa City to help strengthen the campaign against HIV through spreading awareness and education. In a press conference in Puerto Princesa City Hall on 17 September, Ms.
Gray expressed her vehement support to HIV prevention in the city and the province. She said that it is important to get tested and be educated about HIV.
She emphasized how awareness and eduation are a big factor towards HIV prevention. She stated that it is important to remove the barriers from stopping people getting tested as this is one of the way to prevent the spread of HIV.
“Its really about removing the barriers on stopping the people from getting tested, in the first place. I think one of the core of that is education.
We need to teach people what is AIDS and HIV. It’s not just for LGBT community, it can be for mother, children, men and women and it affects all of us and it starts by knowing how it can be contracted and getting people know that there is a medication available and its free pa,” she explained.
She added that the stigma is one of the barriers in HIV, wherein, the Ms. Universe emphasized that HIV Testing should be included in general check up without any stigma attached.
“As soon as we accept that and we think of that as a general check up lang, where you go to check your blood sugar, your heart pressure, your HIV Test, it should be a routine without any stigma attached. It should be just a general concern for your well being, and your partner, and your community,” the Ms. Universe furthersaid. She also said that it is vital for people to know that everyone can be affected with HIV. She stressed that everyone can be prone to HIV and that there should be no labels on who is prone to HIV and not. “I think that’s one of the problem.
We try to box in our minds, like, ‘it can’t be me who is prone to infection because I don’t live this certain lifestyle, i have a certain job, i go to school, i wasnt born in that kind of family.’ We keep on putting label to persons prone to HIV.
It can be everyone and I think that’s the reality we need to face. Let’s not just keep on putting labels.
It should be for every single person,” she said. Ms. Universe Catriona Gray also came to Palawan for the Signing of Commitment on Fast-Tract to Ending the Acquire Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Epidemic which is a program and an agreeement between Puerto Princesa City Government and UNAIDS with its Director, Dr. Louie Ocampo.