Peer Educators: The Unsung Frontliners in the Philippines’ Battle Against HIV and AIDS

Groups fight 'double stigma' on HIV cases in Davao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines -Davao Region is ranked fourth nationwide in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) cases, the most in Mindanao, with 306 new cases in the first quarter this year, according to the Department of Health. But another concern comes with the rise of HIV cases, as advocates of HIV/AIDS awareness point to stigma which they say limits the government strategy in combating the disease. DOH data said every day of this year 2025, at lea…

Peer Educators: The Unsung Frontliners in the Philippines’ Battle Against HIV and AIDS

The HIV and AIDS crisis in the Philippines is escalating at an alarming rate—one of the fastest-growing epidemics in the Asia-Pacific region. Every day, more lives are touched by the virus, especially among vulnerable groups: adolescents, out-of-school youth, members of the LGBTQ+ community, sex workers, and people who inject drugs. Misinformation, stigma, and lack of access to sexual health services continue to widen the gap between prevention …