“HIV testing works best as part of routine primary care: at the barangay’s community health center, the prenatal check-up, and the TB screening.”
SHIP is proud to share our oral presentation at the #PNCA2026, the Philippine National Convention on AIDS, delivered by Felipe “Thirdy” Demafelis III of SAIL Clinic Calamba.
The study looked at a public-private partnership between SAIL Calamba and the Cabuyao City Health Office II that brings HIV education and screening into routine community care, including PuroKalusugan*, tuberculosis active case finding, and antenatal care. From June to October 2026, 703 people were screened across 32 community activities. Of the 392 men having sex with men (MSM) reached, 87% were testing for the first time, and 70 started #PrEP right at the community events. All 13 people who screened reactive were linked to HIV care.
These findings show that combining public health infrastructure and barangay networks with private implementation capacity can reach people who have had little or no prior contact with HIV services. Embedding HIV services in trusted community programs may also help reduce stigma as a barrier to testing.
Reaching the unreached requires more than opening clinic doors. Reaching the unreached requires bringing care into the communities where people live.
