HIV ADVOCACY. Miss Universe - Philippines 2019 Gazine Ganados poses with members of Bangaw, an LGBT community, after an HIV advocacy forum at the People's Hall of the Talisay City Hall on Saturday (Oct. 12, 2019). Ganados, a Cebuana, accompanied a community-based organization, LoveYourself, Inc., in promoting her advocacy on HIV awareness and prevention in the country. (Photo courtesy of LoveYourself)
TALISAY CITY, Cebu – Miss Universe - Philippines 2019 Gazini Ganados promoted her advocacy against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in this southern portal city of Metro Cebu over the weekend.
Ganados, who hails from this province, participated in an HIV awareness and prevention forum, as well as free HIV screening, side by side with an outreach program held at the People’s Hall here.
The activity was held in cooperation with the Youth for Better Talisay, and Talisay City LGBT Bangaw Federation.
The beauty queen was also named as the newest ambassador of "LoveYourself", which is an addition to her advocacy on elderly care.
LoveYourself, Inc. is a community-based organization that offers a free and holistic care approach to HIV.
“I looked forward to this date. My team and I have been coordinating with LoveYourself for months now on our plans to initiate an HIV awareness campaign for Cebuanos. I feel that this is relevant and timely because the incidence rate is still rising in the province,” Ganados said in a statement sent to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
“As a Cebuana with this kind of platform, I think it's prudent to help educate my 'kababayans' to protect and love themselves more, and to break the stigma on HIV and other health illnesses,” she added.
Vice Mayor Alan Bucao thanked Ganados for choosing Talisay as a venue for her advocacy.
“I am so happy that LoveYourself has given their trust in us, the City of Talisay and Talisay City LGBT Bangaw, in extending their advocacy on HIV awareness and prevention. I am looking forward to a more fruitful partnership in this worthy cause,” Bucao said.
Ganados serves as the new face of LoveYourself in Cebu for various HIV awareness campaigns and programs.
According to the statement, Ganados is only one of the international beauty queens who support the LoveYourself advocacy, the others being Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray.
“We are seeing infection cases increase. But the bright side of this is that we can bridge them to proper treatment as soon as possible. We always inform our clients that there’s life after the diagnosis. People living with HIV can still enjoy and live their lives to the fullest,” LoveYourself-Cebu head Jan Estrada said.
Capping her day here, Ganados visited the LoveYourself White House, a community center located along Don Julio Llorente Street near the Fuente Circle in Cebu City.
The center offers a safe co-working space, where one can have a free and confidential HIV screening and treatment, free coffee, board games and study, among others.
Aside from the White House, LoveYourself, Inc. has six operating community centers in the Greater Manila Area -- Anglo in Mandaluyong; Uni and Victoria in Pasay; Welcome in the City of Manila; Lily in Parañaque; and Hero in Bacoor City in Cavite.
The Department of Health (DOH) 7 (Central Visayas) recently released data that showed Cebu province has the highest number of recorded cases of HIV infections in the region.
Some 69 cases were recorded in May alone and a total of 333 cases from January to May this year.
Data from the DOH also showed that Bohol had 29 HIV cases from January to May, while Negros Oriental had 31. (PNA)
