#ThereIsHelp: Twitter launches emoji, dedicated search prompt for HIV/AIDS
In celebration of World AIDS Day, Twitter has launched a dedicated search prompt for HIV-related information via a special tie-up with LoveYourself Inc.—a non-profit organization aimed at providing free HIV testing, counseling, treatment, and life coaching in the country.
On the social media platform, you can get credible and valuable information on HIV/AIDS not only by searching keywords in line with the global epidemic (such as #AIDS, #HIV, #PrEP, #KnowYourStatus, and #LoveYourselfPH), but also by clicking on the hashtag #ThereIsHelp. Focused on encouraging people to seek help when they need it, the Twitter tag was picked up from its notification service that’s currently available for mental health and suicide prevention, vaccination, child sexual exploitation, COVID-19, gender-based violence, and freedom of expression.
On top of that, there’s also a special red ribbon emoji made in partnership with the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS to raise awareness of the issue. The feature will appear in your tweet when you use the #WorldAIDSDay hashtag until Dec. 5.
Such initiatives are quite fitting for this year’s World AIDS Day theme—“End inequalities. End AIDS”—that puts the spotlight on “reaching people left behind.”
The global disease continues to be a major health issue to this day. In a 2020 report by United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS, around 800,000 individuals from 0-14 years old were found to be living with the infection without access to treatments.
“Division, disparity, and disregard for human rights are among the failures that allowed HIV to become and remain a global health crisis,” the World Health Organization said, calling on global leaders and citizens “to rally to confront the inequalities that drive AIDS and to reach people who are currently not receiving essential HIV services.”
