Muntinlupa City – Over 200 young people from Muntinlupa City participated in a Mobile Game Tournament on 3 August 2024 at South Park Center. Organized by the Philippine Anti-Discrimination Alliance of Youth Leaders (PANTAY), the event served as a platform to promote HIV awareness and encourage access to sexual health services among the youth. This tournament served as the culminating activity of Project CLASH (Capacitating Youth Leaders for the Advancement of Sexual Health through Digital Interventions), a UNDP-supported initiative aimed at advancing sexual health through digital interventions. 

The activity was conducted in collaboration with the Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) leaders of Barangays Buli, Sucat, and Poblacion of Muntinlupa City. PANTAY identified an opportunity to reach more young people due to the widespread popularity of mobile games among the youth in the Philippines. The PANTAY team incorporated a segment entitled HIV 101, dedicated to practical knowledge on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and HIV prevention. With support from SAIL Clinic Makati, free HIV testing, condoms, and lubes were provided to the young audience in which 27 young people availed of the free services, and around 850 Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)-related flyers were distributed to the young participants in partnership with the Free to be Youth Hub.

To advance towards the Global 10-10-10 HIV targets, UNDP Philippines spearheads the SCALE Initiative: Removing Barriers to HIV Services. This initiative awards grants to key population-led organizations for their sexual health and HIV response initiatives in their respective communities. One of the recipients of the SCALE grant in the Philippines is PANTAY, a youth-led group advocating for gender-transformative laws. PANTAY empowers the youth to make informed sexual and reproductive health decisions and improve access to HIV services. The organization makes use of digital interventions to reduce high-risk behaviors and boost health-seeking among young MSM (men who have sex with men) and transgender individuals in Muntinlupa City.

In the opening remarks given by UNDP Philippines Deputy Resident Representative Edwine Carrie, he expressed the importance of increasing HIV response efforts towards the youth considering the growing number of HIV cases from this demographic. “With a focus towards the youth, we can enhance the effectiveness of HIV prevention and treatment initiatives,” he said. He also mentioned the significance of peer-to-peer influence as an effective method of spreading awareness and fostering a supportive, open community for HIV care.  

The HIV situation in the Philippines is a growing public health concern, especially among the youth. From January 1984 to June 2023, 34,415 of the overall reported HIV cases were among individuals aged 15-24 years old. According to UNAIDS (2022), almost all new HIV infections among young people in Asia and the Pacific are among this key population and their sexual partners. This signifies a need to refocus and realign HIV and health intervention to better address the needs of the young key population.

This successful initiative under Project CLASH underscores the organization’s commitment to HIV response for the young key population. UNDP Philippines applauds and supports the Philippine Anti-Discrimination Alliance of Youth Leaders for their innovative and creative method of captivating the youth while effectively raising awareness about HIV and sexual health rights. UNDP remains steadfast in its efforts to develop impactful initiatives that effectively reach the most vulnerable populations – ensuring that no one is left behind.  

Contact  Information: Andyleen C. Feje, HIV Response Analyst, andyleen.feje@undp.org