The Philippines Department of Health has begun a PrEP trial hoping to curb the massive increase in HIV infections. While PrEP is near commonplace in the United States, it has taken other countries too long to implement the usage of the Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, which has been proven to be nearly 100% effective in preventing HIV transmission in non HIV-positive individuals.

According to the Philippines Department of Health there has been a “terrifying” number of HIV infections. Just this spring (in one month) the country recorded the highest ever number of new diagnoses with nearly 1,000 cases. This increase is off-trend with the rest of the world, which has generally seen a decrease in new infections. These numbers are so alarming that the Philippines makes up for 95% of all new HIV diagnoses of ten Asia Specific countries.

So far, the program will only accept 200 gay men and transgender women to pilot the PrEP trial. “This is the first time PrEP is being offered in the Philippines, this is very exciting,” Danvic Rosadino from Love Yourself, an LGBTI organization involved in the trial told Thomson Reuters Foundation. “With the continued rise in new HIV cases, this is really timely and relevant. All interventions regarding HIV preventions should be made available in the Philippines.” Let’s hope the trial is a success and the country can fund more widespread programs.