As conversations around Pride continue to evolve, healthcare is becoming an increasingly important part of what it means to live authentically. Beyond visibility and equality, many advocates are emphasizing another form of empowerment: making informed decisions that protect long-term health.
During a Pride Month discussion organized by LoveYourself Inc. with support from MSD in the Philippines, healthcare professionals, advocates, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community explored how preventive healthcare, self-love, and community support intersect. Their message was clear: caring for yourself today is also about protecting your future.
For infectious disease specialist Dr. Claro Antonio, self-care extends far beyond the wellness routines people often associate with it.
“When you say self-care, most of us think about what will make us feel good today. But preventive healthcare is about thinking of your future self. It's asking: how do I protect myself and keep myself healthy in the years ahead?” he said.
Preventive healthcare includes actions that help reduce the risk of disease before illness develops, such as routine check-ups, health screenings, healthy lifestyle choices, mental health support, and vaccination. While these may seem like small steps, they can have a significant impact on long-term health and wellbeing.
For many LGBTQIA+ Filipinos, however, accessing healthcare is not always straightforward. Concerns about stigma, discrimination, and misinformation continue to discourage some individuals from seeking care early and consistently.
For Zoe Black, a transgender woman living with HIV and a community leader with LoveYourself, self-love and healthcare are deeply connected.
“I believe self-love is deeply connected to health and wellness,” she shared. “The way we value ourselves influences the way we care for our bodies, our minds, and our overall well-being.”
Black reflected on her own journey following her HIV diagnosis eight years ago, describing how fear, anxiety, and self-stigma initially became barriers to treatment. Over time, she realized that health empowerment often begins with small, intentional choices.
“Every healthy choice you make is already an act of self-respect. It is already an act of self-love,” she said.
Her advice for others is simple: start where you are. “One step for one day is enough. Maybe your first step is simply setting an appointment. Every conscious decision to take care of yourself is already a big step.”
Prevention Is Protection
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The discussion also highlighted how stigma can become one of the greatest barriers to better health outcomes.
“I believe HIV does not kill people. It's stigma and discrimination that do it. The more embarrassed people are to get tested, the more they delay treatment,” Black said.
Creating safe, inclusive, and affirming healthcare spaces is therefore critical, particularly for communities that have historically faced barriers to care.
The importance of preventive healthcare becomes even more pronounced for people living with HIV (PLHIV) and other immunocompromised individuals, who may face increased risks from certain infections and vaccine-preventable diseases. Regular consultations, appropriate vaccinations, timely screening, and adherence to treatment are essential to maintaining long-term health.
Preventive healthcare should be prioritized by PLHIVs, according to Dr. Antonio.
“Vaccination is the highest form of self-care because you're not only dealing with today. You're protecting your future self,” he said.
While vaccines are often associated with childhood, adult vaccination remains an important yet frequently overlooked aspect of preventive healthcare. Depending on age, lifestyle, and health status, adults may seek advice from their physicians on appropriate health measures to help protect against vaccine-preventable diseases such as influenza, pneumococcal disease, hepatitis B, and human papillomavirus (HPV).
HPV is one of the most common viral infections worldwide and is linked to several cancers and other diseases. Despite this, misconceptions about HPV and vaccination continue to persist.
“HPV vaccination is not only for people who are sexually active. It's one of the few vaccines that can actually help prevent HPV-related cancers,” Dr. Antonio explained.
Health, Community, and Empowerment
Beyond medical interventions, both speakers emphasized the importance of community in supporting health and wellbeing.
Black shared that one of the most important factors that helped her navigate her diagnosis was finding support and understanding from others. She also underscored the need to address mental health alongside physical health, noting that fear, shame, and self-doubt often prevent people from seeking care.
Their message was clear: healthcare should be accessible, inclusive, and affirming. Community organizations, healthcare providers, advocates, and public health institutions all have a role to play in ensuring that people feel safe seeking care without fear of judgment or discrimination.
As Pride continues to evolve as a movement for equality, dignity, and wellbeing, conversations about preventive healthcare serve as a powerful reminder that health is part of empowerment.
Whether it begins with scheduling a check-up, getting tested, seeking mental health support, speaking with a healthcare provider, or learning more about vaccination, every proactive step is an investment in one's future.
Self-love is not only about acceptance. It is also about protection. It is choosing to care for the person you are today, and the person you hope to become tomorrow.
About MSD
At MSD (known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA in United States and Canada), we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information, visit https//:www.msd.com.ph.
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