Now on its third year, the QUILTS Awards continues to recognize Philippine organizations for their efforts to support and service those with HIV and AIDS. The ceremony is set to be held today, May 19, 2024, Sunday, at the San Jose Del Monte Convention Center, Bulacan.
Short for Quality Uptake and Improvements in Lifesaving Treatment Services, the QUILTS Awards aims to honor and empower the contributions and strides made by public and private health facilities towards ensuring that every person living with HIV gets their lifesaving antiretroviral drugs.
Some of the awards expected to be conferred cover excellence in bringing HIV services closer to younger populations, timely enrolling of newly diagnosed people living with HIV on their treatment, and the different strategies implemented by the facilities in ensuring that HIV treatment services are client centered. The winners are selected based on epidemiological data from the Department of Health. Special awards will also be given such as on excellence in utilizing one of the HIV serving booking appointment systems in the Philippines QuickRes.org.
First held in 2022, the QUILTS Awards is an innovation by the Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) Project in the Philippines, led globally by the non-profit FHI 360 and funded by the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID). QUILTS Awards takes inspiration from the AIDS Memorial Quilt, a global symbol of solidarity in the fight against HIV originating from San Francisco gay rights activist Cleve Jones.
The QUILTS Awards is a collaboration with the AIDS Society of the Philippines and UNAIDS Philippines.
The QUILTS Awards coincides with the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial (IACM) commemoration, observed every third Sunday of May as a tribute to those who have lost their lives to HIV and AIDS. A candlelight ceremony is also expected to take place in solidarity and unity among communities affected by HIV, as well as a constant reminder that every person living with HIV can live a healthy and productive life.
