THE UNIVERSITY of San Carlos recently offered free human immunodeficiency virus testing to its students, employees and off-campus alumni.

The initiative was organized by the Philippine Catholic HIV, in partnership with AIDS Network (PhilCHAN)-Cebu.

USC External Relations Director Brenette Abrenica said the free testing was considered part of USC’s mission “to provide information about the silent pandemic.”

“It is our social and moral responsibility to contribute to the normalization of the discussion about HIV and AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) and link those who are vulnerable to the continuum of care,” Abrenica added.

HIV weakens the immune system of the human body while AIDS refers to the condition that can happen to a person because of an HIV infection when one’s immune system gets severely weakened.

In its May 2023 surveillance report on HIV and sexually transmitted infections, the Department of Health in Central Visayas recorded 101 newly diagnosed HIV cases which placed the region in the fourth spot in the country.

“It is in the context of this pressing situation that the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Health Care and PhilCHAN-Cebu collaborated with the University of San Carlos to conduct free HIV testing,” the school said.