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From classroom learning to community-based practice.

From July to August 2026, pre-med students from the University of Santo Tomas, College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences joined SHIP Academy for a Clinical and Research Internship across our #SAILClinics.

Throughout their rotation, the students gained first-hand exposure to clinical and public health practice while taking part in hands-on research, from understanding patient care pathways to working with health data and contributing to research activities.

We’re glad to have shared our work and our commitment to evidence-based, person-centered care with the next generation of health and science professionals.

Thank you from the crew at SHIP!

“People don’t move through HIV care in a straight line—and our health systems shouldn’t assume they do.”

SHIP is excited to share our latest research presented at the now concluded #AIDS2026, examining how clients transition through HIV care across our four community-led SAIL Clinics. Using multistate survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards models, we found that delayed ART initiation, educational attainment, employment, and viral hepatitis significantly influence both disengagement from and re-engagement in HIV care.

These findings reinforce the need for person-centered, differentiated service delivery that supports clients throughout their care journey, not just at the point of treatment initiation.

Better HIV outcomes require more than getting people into care. Better HIV outcomes require helping people stay connected to care.

HIV self-testing is opening doors to #PrEP—but not equally for everyone.

Data from SAIL TelePrEP (January to September 2025, n=4,955) shows that HIV self-testing is a powerful gateway into PrEP: 2 in 3 clients who came in for self-testing chose to combine it with PrEP on the spot.

Who was most likely to say yes to PrEP?

Clients aged 45 years and older (4.7x more likely)

Employed and student clients

Those reporting condomless sex or shared needle use—meaning risk-informed decision support is working

But geography still matters. The SAIL Clinics operate in Metro Manila and Region 4-A. Clients residing outside these areas had significantly lower odds of choosing PrEP, even after accounting for demographics and risk, serving as a reminder that digital health still runs into very physical barriers.

The takeaway: HIV self-testing accessed via remote platforms like TelePrEP and other telehealth options are meeting people where they are—we now need regional PrEP hubs to meet them where they live.

At the #AIDS2026 poster exhibition, SHIP’s Dr. Patrick Eustaquio presented our study exploring how geographical mobility influences HIV testing outcomes among men who have sex with men and among transgender women accessing HIV services.

The analysis included more than 15,500 clients from the SAIL Clinics, a network of community-based clinics strategically located near major transport hubs in the Greater Metro Manila area. By operating where people travel, work, and connect, these clinics are uniquely positioned to serve highly mobile communities.

Dr. Eustaquio conveyed the study’s findings, which showed that people being screened for HIV for the first time were more likely to have a reactive HIV screening result than repeat testers, particularly among the clinics’ local residents and transient clients. These results truly highlight the importance of designing HIV services that reflect how people live and move, and how they access care.