Philippine organizations who continuing provide innovative and quality care to people with Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) were recognized for their efforts during the QUILTS Awards 2024 held at the City of San Jose Del Monte Convention Center, Bulacan on Sunday, May 19.
The event was graced by Secretary Teodoro Herbosa of the Department of Health (DOH) who expressed his gratitude to all honored partners in their invaluable contributions to the community.
QUILTS stands for Quality Uptake and Improvements in Lifesaving Treatment Services, it aims to honor and empower the contributions and strides made by public and private health facilities towards ensuring that every person living with HIV gets their lifesaving antiretroviral drugs.
Through this recognitions, QUILTS Awards is a ceremony who wants to inspire hope in those who are living with HIV and AIDS by sending them a message that they are not alone in their journey and to let them know that there is a community that will welcome them with open arms and a time to remember those who lost to these viruses.
In his message, Sec. Herbosa said that DOH is one with everyone in honoring the hard work of every single person who is in the fight to end HIV epidemic and to ensure that quality care is given to people living with HIV.
“The DOH has release the health sectors medium term strategy, the 8-point Action Agenda called ‘Sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Buhay ay Mahalaga’ which was design to place Filipinos at the very heart of health care reforms grounded in humanistic leadership of good governance and prioritizing the delivery of health services through primary care with focus on several public health program including HIV and AIDS,” Herbosa said.
He said, the HIV-AIDS epidemic in the country has seen the fastest growth in Asia and the Pacific with 418% increase in new HIV infections and highest percentage change in AIDS related deaths with 536% increase since 2010.
It was learned that younger people especially males were diagnosed with HIV infections at age range of 15 to 24 years old.
Facilities and organizations from National Capital Region, Calabarzon and Central Luzon that have shown exceptional contributions for HIV treatment in the country that were recognized during the awards night are:
Excellence Award for HIV Treatment Initiation Under 350 clients was awarded to Cainta Reproductive Health & Wellness Center and to SAIL Calamba; Under 350 to 999 clients was awarded to Las Piñas Social Hygiene Clinic while Above 1000 clients goes to SAIL Makati.
The Excellence Award for HIV Treatment Retention Under 350 clients awarded to SAIL Caloocan; Under. 350 to 999 clients goes to Bataan General Hospital (Bataan HAVEN) while Above 1000 clients went to LoveYourself Victoria.
QUILTS 2024 Excellence Award for HIV Viral Load Coverage Under 350 clients was given to Caloocan Social Hygiene Clinic; while under 350 to 999 clients awarded to SAIL Cavite and the Above 1000 clients went to Jose B. Lingad Regional Memorial Hospital (Bahay Lingad).
The QUILTS 2024 Champion for Differentiated HIV Treatment Services Under 350 clients awarded to SAIL Calamba and Meycauayan City Primary HIV Care Clinic (Home of Bamboo); the 350 to 999 clients was given to SAIL Cavite and the Above 1000 clients awarded to SAIL Makati while special awards such as Excellence Award for QuickRes.org goes to Laguna Medical Center and the Excellence Award for HIV Services in Young KeyPopulations was given to LoveYourself Anglo.
According to Irene Fonacier-Fellizar, president and board of trustees of the AIDS Society of the Philippines and Teresita Bagasao, project director of the Epidemic Control Project, such awards are to further strengthen the measures to end the HIV epidemic worldwide until the year 2030.
Based on DOH data, HIV cases are highest in Metro Manila, Region IV and Region 3.
The winners are selected based on epidemiological data from the Department of Health.
First held in 2022, the QUILTS Awards is an innovation by the Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) Project in the Philippines, led globally by the non-profit FHI 360 and funded by the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
QUILTS Awards takes inspiration from the AIDS Memorial Quilt, a global symbol of solidarity in the fight against HIV originating from San Francisco gay rights activist Cleve Jones.
The QUILTS Awards is a collaboration with the AIDS Society of the Philippines and UNAIDS Philippines.
The event coincided with the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial (IACM) commemoration, observed every third Sunday of May as a tribute to those who have lost their lives to HIV and AIDS.
A candlelight ceremony after the awarding was took place in solidarity and unity among communities affected by HIV, as well as a constant reminder that every person living with HIV can live a healthy and productive life.
