Miss Universe 2018 Catriona graces launching of Baguio HIV/AIDS community center

Baguio City, Philippines – Well-known advocate for human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) awareness and Miss Universe 2018, Catriona Gray graced the launching of the community center, Balay Marvi on Sunday, October 09.

Balay Marvi was put up by LoveYourself, a community of volunteers aiming to reach out to people and propagate ideas, attitudes, and practices that encourage loving oneself - to DARE to be oneself, to CARE for oneself, and to SHARE oneself as a way to multiply joy.

The center, which is located at Lopez Building A Room 303, Session Road, offers a holistic approach to health care including sexual health education, testing, prevention and treatment, support, and care.

Gray added that Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is also being offered at the center, which is a pill taken daily by an HIV-negative person to maintain his/her status and be protected against HIV. The pill, she said, is given for free!

Meanwhile, Councilor Levy Lloyd Orcales expressed support for the initiative.

“As the main author of our Baguio City HIV/AIDS ordinance, we stand for a stronger partnership with the private sector and aim to empower our communities to combat HIV/AIDS,” Orcales stated on his social media account.

It was earlier disclosed that from 1984 to February 2022, a total of 494 HIV/AIDS cases have been recorded in the city. Of which, 25 succumbed to the disease.

Through the Balay Marvi, it is expected that the city’s mechanism to control the increase of HIV cases will be strengthened.

The center is open from Wednesday to Sunday, 12 noon to 7 PM, except for holidays.

Appointments may be booked online through bit.ly/lybooking.

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