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The Shorty Awards are a worldwide effort to engage hundreds of thousands of Twitter users to identify the best people and organizations on social media, culminating in a blockbuster ceremony in New York City.

It’s a matter of prevention versus cure. I’m talking about the constant woes in HIV advocacy caused by people using the Internet as an avenue of baseless accusations and unwarranted disclosure of people’s HIV status.

Early this year, an individual chose an online social network as the platform to indict a student of being HIV-positive and of deliberately infecting other people through a poster of the student’s picture and other identifying features. As expected, with the phenomena brought by these online mediums, the post spread like wildfire through countless re-posts. It drew different comments; a few, of dismay that someone would do this to shame a person, but mostly of confusion and fear that probably, this person might actually be purposely infecting others.

To save a maligned name and disprove the unknown perpetrator, the student took the HIV screening test at a social hygiene clinics and got a non-reactive result.

This has happened before. A blog targeted multiple subscribers of a gay social networking site and branded them HIV-positive as well. This even reached mainstream media and caused quite a blow towards our efforts of dissipating the fear of HIV, which would eventually hamper the public’s opportunities of understanding HIV and AIDS.

In light of a current law penalizing people who malign others, with some using HIV infection at the core of accusations, I think it’s good that there is something to use against persons who put others in a bad light. Given the lack of teeth of RA 8504, or the Philippine AIDS Law, it could help put a stop to the destructive online attacks. But I think we can do more than just chastise.

But then again, why not just aid the campaign on HIV prevention by educating people, strengthening school campaigns and helping the media handle this very sensitive topic? HIV is no longer just a health issue. It is a social issue given the country’s taboo perception on sex and sexual contact, which is currently the most widespread mode of transmission of the virus.

I believe that educating people and removing the stigma is the best preventive measure against hateful remarks online from ever happening again. Not only will it help the country in its goal of lessening HIV prevalence; it will also help persons living with HIV to seek out help without fear of discrimination. Again, as they say, prevention is better than cure.

Disclaimer: The views represented in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect that of AIDS Society of the Philippines, Inc.

Here are our new campaign posters. Check them out and help us spread them around on your social network profiles. You never know who might see it and who you might help. Find more of these posters here and share the album to help spread awareness on Facebook.

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This year’s theme: “Chatters, Bloggers, Texters at risk of HIV”
Guest speakers: Dr. Isabel E. Melgar & Dr. Mary Annjoy Aguadera

The global village is getting smaller and is constantly evolving, but what impact can advances in online mobile and social technology have on issues regarding HIV and AIDS?

The birth of social media platforms are changing the state of play when it comes to health information and services enabling organizations to reach out to young people about issues surrounding HIV without drowning and overwhelming us in statistics and scholarly articles! Truly, health technology provides solutions that improves the efficiency, effectiveness and access of health service delivery for HIV prevention, treatment and care.

We believe that mobile, online and social technologies plays a critical role in empowering individuals to take control of their HIV status by simply being connected!

Anybody, anyone could be at risk including you!

Preceeding ASP’s membership meeting will be a scientific forum which will provide important information on the progress of HIV outreach. There will be a discussion on the changing trends and patterns of HIV infection as well as the country’s responses.

In behalf our President, Dr Jojo Sescon, our Founder Dr Ofelia T Monzon, and ASP’s Board of Trustees, we look forward to an informative event that is of special interest to all of us!

Pre-registration Fee will be P250.00 (until 10/18/11) while the on-site Registration Fee for non-members will be Php300.00. This includes 2 snacks and a buffet lunch.

To confirm attendance, simply download and complete the confirmation slip and fax it back to: (02) 376-2546 or e-mail it to: info@aidsphil.org or me.laya@aidsphil.org on or before October 18, 2011.

Confirmation Slip and Location Map: Download Now

For any inquiries, please feel free to contact us. Look for Ma. Eloisa Laya or Bong Yap.

You may download your digital copy of the publication here: Download Now