Rising HIV/AIDS cases alarming – DOH

The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday warned anew about the dangers of unprotected sex and intravenous use of illegal drug amid the alarming increase of HIV/AIDS cases in the Philippines.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd said the number of new HIV infections has dropped by 17 percent globally since 2001, but the number of new cases here in the country has increased by 334 percent.

Duque said an afflicted individual “is like a walking time bomb that may explode and spread the virus to others, cause deaths especially if he or she doesn’t know his or her HIV status while engaging in high risk behaviors.”

The 2009 Integrated HIV Behavioral and Serological Surveillance (IHBSS) also revealed that the number of Filipinos afflicted with HIV/AIDS, especially among high-risk populations, is steadily growing.

The report disclosed that the overall prevalence of cases in the most-at-risk populations (MARPs) is 530 per 100,000 population.

The prevalence in the other cases are: 1,050 per 100,000 men having sex with men; 540 per 100,000 freelance female sex workers, 230 per 100,000 registered female sex workers, and 210 per 100,000 injecting drug users.

“The threat is real,” Duque said, stressing that the number of new cases is “far higher than the numbers the 2007 IHBSS yielded.”

He added: “The number of infected persons in the Philippines is growing and the infection is spreading fast in most-at-risk populations such as freelance female sex workers, men having sex with men, and injecting drug users, among others. We have to stop the spread and gain control of the situation.”

The Health chief said HIV and AIDS do not discriminate and anyone can get infected including unborn babies.

However, he said “there are groups that are more at risk than others because of behaviors that include unprotected vaginal and anal sex, multiple sex partners and reuse of needles and syringes while injecting drugs.”

To prevent the spread of the virus, Duque said that the Health department is determined to boost its information drive and strengthen its prevention program and services against HIV/AIDS.

But he added that the Department of Health efforts alone are not enough in this endeavor.

“The DOH will need the help of other sectors, other agencies of government, the LGUs [local government units], civic society and individuals and communities. All of us have a responsibility and role in stopping this disease,” Duque said. –ROMMEL C. LONTAYAO, Manila Times