LoveYourself

Last updated

LoveYourself
AbbreviationLY
Formation2011;14 years ago (2011)
FounderRonivin Garcia Pagtakhan
Region served
Philippines
Services HIV testing, medication distribution, HIV policymaking
Staff90 [1] (2019)
Volunteers1,200 [1] (2019)
Website loveyourself.ph

LoveYourself Inc. is an HIV/AIDS health care community-based organization based in the Philippines. It also runs sexual health clinics.

Contents

History

LoveYourself was established in 2011, by Ronivin Garcia Pagtakhan and his friends. [2] It is a community-based organization aiming to provide free testing for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and provides access to pre and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medications. [3] [4]

LoveYourself relies on volunteers and donations from the private firms. [4] And until 2025, [5] with funding from the United States government via USAID and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. [4]

Purpose and services

LoveYourself combats the stigmatization of seeking sexual and reproductive health. [4] It also serves as a support group for people with HIV/AIDs and provides HIV testing services. [6] It has provided aid to private companies in formulating HIV Workplace Policy in compliance with the provisions of the HIV/AIDS Prevention Act of 1998. [7] It has also expanded its scope to include transgender health care and mental health. [4]

Clinics

As of 2016, LoveYourself runs two clinics in Metro Manila. As of that period, the facilities conduct half of the HIV testing in the metropolis or 23 percent nationwide. [6] In 2025, LoveYourself has 22 clinics. [5]

References

  1. 1 2 "WHO backs community-based distribution of anti-HIV pill". United Nations Philippines. December 1, 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  2. ↑ Cabrera, Marymil M. (April 30, 2021). "Love yourself by loving others". SunStar. SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  3. ↑ Basilio, Patricia Anne S; Cheong, Amanda Marie A; Eala, Michelle Ann B (May 2022). "Empowering women: addressing HIV vertical transmission in the Philippines". The Lancet HIV. 9 (5): e306. doi:10.1016/S2352-3018(22)00102-3 . Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Co, Ryanne (May 5, 2023). "How LoveYourself Philippines is destigmatising HIV around the country". Tatler Asia. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  5. 1 2 Ramos, Mariejo (March 27, 2025). "PH LGBTQ+ groups seek options to US aid". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Conde, Carlos H. (December 8, 2016). "Fueling the Philippines' HIV Epidemic". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  7. ↑ Santos, Ana (February 16, 2016). "Youth-friendly HIV testing center opens in Manila". Rappler. Archived from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.