BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — Schools are pivotal battlegrounds in breaking the cycle of infection of HIV/AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) and the stigma that has been attached to it.
Dr. Rhoda Lynn Orallo-Fajardo, HIV/AIDS Core Team chairperson of the Notre Dame Hospital, said that most of the HIV/AIDS cases are now seen in the younger generation.
Based on the 3rd quarter 2025 data, the HIV diagnoses are averaging 61 cases per day nationwide, and most of the affected age group is 15 to 25 years old.
According to Orallo-Fajardo, the primary barrier to getting tested for HIV/AIDS in schools is the fear of being seen going into the clinic.
Students avoid being tested due to the fear of judgment and gossip; thus, the need to shift the narrative. She said that the university’s role is to make the school a safe space.
“We need to have a change in the narrative, from a scary disease with fear and isolation to that of a manageable health condition where treatment and support are readily accessible.”
“Meaning, it should be a university where there is no stigma, no judgment, or no violence or bullying. We should normalize health-seeking behavior and make strict confidentiality protocols for these cases,” Orallo-Fajardo said during a forum at the Benguet State University (BSU) on Jan. 13, 2026.
According to Orallo-Fajardo, the 2025 third quarter data showed that a total of 5,583 new confirmed HIV cases were recorded in the said period. Of the said number, 30 percent are 15 to 24 years old, and 42 percent are 25 to 34 years old.
“We see these are university students, new graduates, or young professionals,” she said.
In the Cordillera, there were 132 confirmed cases from January to September 2025. Despite the rising diagnosis, over 1,000 people are already on antiretroviral treatment supported by a strong network of community-based treatment hubs
“We see that we have a lot of treatment hubs in our community. Among those who were tested in the third quarter, about 99 percent are already virally suppressed. Viral suppression… when a patient with HIV takes the anti-retroviral treatment, the virus becomes undetectable in their blood, and they become now untransmissible,” she said.
She added that effective treatment can prevent transmission, and their goal is to find or to diagnose these patients so that they can start their treatment.
Her strong message to the youth: “You should know your status, especially if you have a high-risk behavior. Get tested for HIV.”
She also urged them to be a peer, stop the gossip and stigma, and share facts, not fear.
“To innovate, use your platform. Use social media for health campaigns and not for trends. Be a digital advocate.”
In 2025, a total of 2,500 individuals in BSU underwent HIV/AIDS testing during the 5-day testing conducted by the Department of Health. **DEG-PIA CAR
