MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) – A mobile telecommunications service aimed at curbing the rise in HIV/AIDS in the Philippine capital region of Metro Manila was launched here today.
The Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC), a public-private advisory body, partnered with Philippine NGO Support Program and local mobile telecommunications firm Globe Telecommunications for the “TXT HIV to 8504” campaign.
The SMS-based campaign was designed to provide information and referral to HIV counseling, testing, and life-saving treatment programs. Globe subscribers may avail of the service for free for one year.
PNAC said the campaign is also in line with the United Nation’s advocacy for information and communication technology-based initiatives to combat HIV which had infected 17,450 Filipinos since 1984.
The public-private initiative, PNAC Executive Director Ferchito Avelino said, hopes to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS particularly in the National Capital Region which was identified as having a high number of new HIV cases.
Based on figures released by the Philippine Department of Health (DOH), the number of new HIV/AIDS cases in the January to February period has already reached 934. In the month of February alone, the DOH recorded 486 new HIV/AIDS cases.
Avelino said the service was made available through mobile phones as Filipinos have come to regard it as indispensable devices for information and services.
Citing 2009 data from Business Wire, PNAC said the Philippines is touted as the “Text Capital of the World” with more than 1.39 million text messages sent daily. –(philstar.com)
July 2025
Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
15 July – World Youth Skills Day
17 July – World Day for International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons
Monthly Observances:
Schools Safety Month
Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week
Daily Observances:
First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines
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