Bohol media urged to report HIV 

cases responsibly to raise awareness

By Elvira C. Bongosia

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA) – The provincial government of Bohol, through the Provincial Health Office (PHO), has conducted a training on responsible messaging about Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) for Bohol media on June 20.

The media practitioners were trained on how to create stories that inform without causing harm, especially terminology and story angles, aligning their work with public health and human rights principles.

PHO officer-in-charge Dr. Fruserma Mary Uy, in her message, stressed the vital role of media in shaping public awareness and breaking the stigma around HIV.

She stressed that HIV is not always visible and that prevention begins with education and behavioral change.

Uy also encouraged the media to amplify awareness about protective measures so the public can take proactive steps against HIV transmission.

Dr. Jasper Vijar, project lead of Team Dugong Bughaw, urged the reporters to write with empathy and accuracy.

He also called on the media to use their platform for good and warned against sensationalist headlines, emphasizing that responsible reporting can save lives.

“HIV is not just a health issue. It is a social one. You (the media) are one of the flagbearers of the advocacy. Tabangi mi ninyo,” Vijar appealed.

Meanwhile, Dr. Wilnilia Causing of the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Medical Center (GCGMMC) presented local HIV trends, clarifying that current figures are based on voluntary clients from the Piskay Bohol Hub at Gallares Hospital and may not represent the whole province.

She emphasized that early diagnosis and treatment are working, noting the significant drop in HIV-related mortality in recent years.

Causing also shared that patients at their clinic continue to receive care without discrimination, encouraging more people to seek testing and support.

“We shy away from giving figures on HIV cases kay ana mugawas ang stigma, especially kung ma-identify kung taga-asa sila,” Causing said.

(We shy away from giving figures on HIV cases because that can cause stigma, especially if it’s known where the cases are from.)

She shared that the province is working towards the global 95-95-95 target by 2030, aiming for most People Living with HIV (PLHIV) to be diagnosed, treated, and virally suppressed.

HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system, specifically the CD4 cells (T cells), which help fight infections.

American International Health Alliance (AIHA) Country Director Dr. Leo John Nathaniel Estrada emphasized the importance of clarity in HIV reporting, especially differentiating it from Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

STIs are infections spread through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex, while AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection when the immune system is severely weakened.

Estrada explained the HIV progression and modes of transmission, including sexual contact, sharing of needles, and mother-to-child transmission.

He also discussed preventive methods such as ABCDE—Abstinence, Being mutually faithful, Condom and lubricant use, “Do not share needles,” and Educating others.

Bohol Tri-Media Association (BTMA) president Francisco Obedencio, on behalf of the media practitioners in the province, pledged support to the education and awareness drive against any form of unsafe sex encounter. (ECB/PIA7-Bohol)

Provincial Health Office OIC Dr. Fruserma Mary Uy during the training on responsible messaging about HIV to Bohol media practitioners on June 20, stressed the vital role of media in shaping public awareness and breaking the stigma around HIV. (ECB/PIA7-Bohol)

Bohol Provincial Health Office OIC Dr. Fruserma Mary Uy during the training on responsible messaging about HIV for Bohol media practitioners on June 20, 2025. (ECB/PIA Bohol)