Media practitioners should avoid sensationalized headlines and adopt evidence-based reporting on HIV to help address stigma that discourages Filipinos from getting tested and accessing treatment, a person living with HIV said.
Allan, not his real name, said news reports that frame human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as a moral issue or unnecessarily associate it with crime can reinforce misconceptions and discrimination against people living with the condition.
“Stigma does not protect people,” he said during an media orientation on HIV reporting organized by the AIDS Society of the Philippines (ASP) in Quezon City on Monday. He urged journalists to prioritize accurate health information and avoid fear-driven narratives.
He cited a news report about a man arrested for allegedly molesting a child that also mentioned medication associated with HIV found during a police search. Allan questioned the relevance of including the medication in the report, saying the central issue was the alleged abuse.
Allan said such reporting could fuel misconceptions about HIV and make people reluctant to undergo testing or seek medical care.
Figures presented during the orientation estimated that 288,000 Filipinos were living with HIV, but only 56% had been tested. Allan said stigma and fear of discrimination remained barriers to testing.
He implored journalists to use person-first terms such as “person living with HIV” instead of “AIDS victim” or “HIV sufferer,” which can reduce individuals to their condition.
Allan also called for more coverage of HIV prevention and treatment options, including PrEP, PEP and antiretroviral therapy, which is available for free through the Department of Health.
He said reports should provide practical information on accessing testing and treatment services, rather than focusing solely on controversy or personal details.
PRIVACY PROTECTED UNDER HIV LAW
Allan reminded journalists that Republic Act No. 11166, or the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act, protects the rights and confidentiality of people living with HIV.
The law prohibits the unauthorized disclosure of a person’s HIV status and sets penalties for violations of confidentiality. It also provides protections against discrimination and establishes safeguards for informed consent in HIV testing, among other measures.
For media practitioners, this means that a person’s HIV status should not be disclosed without the legally required consent. Reporters should also consider whether identifying details could expose a person’s status or compromise their privacy, even when their name is omitted.
Allan said he continues to keep his identity private despite having participated in interviews because he wants to protect his family.
“It is not about me. It is about my family,” he said.
TREATMENT CAN HELP PEOPLE LIVE FULFILLING LIVES
Diagnosed in 2007, Allan said he initially believed he would die soon after learning his HIV status. His former partner died later that year, prompting him to reflect on whether better access to accurate information and health services might have made a difference.
Allan said he is now undetectable through treatment and has been with his current partner for 16 years. His partner is HIV-negative, he said.
He cited the principle of “undetectable equals untransmittable,” or U=U, which means a person living with HIV who achieves and maintains an undetectable viral load does not sexually transmit the virus.
Allan said responsible reporting should help people understand that HIV is treatable and that people living with the condition can maintain relationships and lead fulfilling lives.
“The words we choose and the way we present an issue can help someone live longer or contribute to an early death,” he said.
“When we change the way we speak, we can save lives.” — Kaizzer Angela Marie V. Manuba