Ex-call center agent with HIV shares story

MANILA, Philippines – “Joseph Ryan,” a former call center agent who contracted the human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV), asked the public not to judge his previous profession.

He made the statement as a recent study showed how more gay and bisexual workers in the country are getting with HIV due to unprotected sex.

Joseph Ryan has yet to reveal his true identity to the public. In a 2-minute video clip showed by the Association of Call Center and BPO Agents of the Philippines (ACCAP) to ABS-CBN News, he wore a white mask and covered his head and body with a black cloth.

“Ang pakiusap ko lamang po ay huwag ninyo kaming husgahan sa pagiging call center agent (All I ask of you is not to condemn us just because we’re call center agents),” the 20-year-old said in the video.

In the video, Joseph Ryan shared how he used to be “young and careless.” A call center agent for 2 years in Ortigas, he said he had multiple sex partners and got HIV from a casual sexual encounter with a nurse he met at a street party.

“The reason why I contracted HIV was because I did not practice safe sex. I apologize to my family, friends, patawarin ninyo po ako (please forgive me),” Joseph Ryan lamented.

“Please be protected, please practice safe sex,” he added.

‘Voice’ of call center agents?

ACCAP, an organization working with party-list group Aksyon Magsasaka Partido Tinig ng Masa (AKMA-PTM), aims to address the needs of call center agents in the Philippines.

Kevin Carreon, ACCAP spokesperson and a former call center agent, said Joseph Ryan sent him an email asking for emotional and financial support as he continues to undergo treatment. To this end, the group has put up a hotline (546-0691) for call center agents with HIV.

Here, call center agents with HIV can ask for assistance on where to get medical treatment, among others.

According to ACCAP, most call center agents tend to party excessively given their very late shifts, making them highly prone to diseases such as HIV. The group stressed, however, that other jobs pose the same threat as well. Report from Nina Corpuz, ABS-CBN News