DOH on HIV alarm: “It’s not who you are, but what you do”

CEBU, Philippines – The National Epidemiology Center of the Department of Health clarified that it did not intend to imply that call center agents per se are at higher risk of getting infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

DOH-NEC Director Eric Tayag told The Freeman yesterday the message they wanted to get across is that call center agents “have high risk of behaviors that should be looked into.”

“The message is, it’s not who you are, but what you do,” Tayag said.

DOH-NEC made the clarification following reactions from the city government and the agents themselves crying foul over a DOH finding that call center agents have a higher risk of getting infected with HIV.

The DOH has identified Metro Cebu, Metro Manila and Davao as HIV hot zones.

Tayag said these areas are considered hot zones not because the incidence or prevalence is getting higher, but because of the elements where in high risk behaviors may be more prevalent due to level of urbanization, density of the population and the opportunities for casual sex and other risky behaviors.

The number of HIV cases has reportedly increased in the country each year, recording a total of 126 cases in December 2009 alone, the highest reported in the past 25 years.

A survey conducted by NEC two years ago revealed that call center agents are into alcohol, which Tayag cited as an example of a “risk behavior.”

“Alcohol clouds the mind and it causes low self-esteem which could lead to risky sexual behavior like casual sex which is easy gratification or easy comfort. So those are risk factors that can lead to other risky behavior,” Tayag explained.

Tayag, together with DOH officials in Region 7, met with representatives of the city government yesterday to discuss the HIV situation in the city.

Last month, the city health office recorded the first case of HIV from a 26-year-old man who was diagnosed with the virus, the cause of which remains unverified.

Dr. Ilya Tac-an, city health HIV Detection Unit Head, said HIV cases continue to rise in the city. Last year recorded 11 cases of HIV here, the highest figure compared to previous years that saw only an average of four cases per year.

“In the Philippines in December 2009, we had 126 new cases, the highest reported in the past 25 years. For the whole year of 2009, the total is 835. Since 1984 to December 2009, the total number is 4,424,” Tayag reported.

Tayag said DOH continues with its efforts to minimize HIV cases by promoting healthy and decent lifestyle to those prone to risky behaviors like men having sex with men and those who engage in casual sex without taking precautionary measures.

“So each one of us, if we engage in unsafe sex practices and we do not use protection, we should abstain, delay early initiation into penetrative sex. For example be faithful – monogamous relationship. And then use condom of protection when necessary correctly, persistently, consistently,” Tayag reminded.

He also clarified that DOH is not using the issue to promote the Reproductive Health Bill.

“No its not, this is about survival because HIV eventually kills. And we don’t want the youth, those who are affected now, to lose their opportunity for a better life,” Tayag said.

“Because we have seen the effects in other countries – it decimate their population, it brought down their economy and we don’t want that to happen in our country,” Tayag said further. – Jessica Ann R. Pareja/JMO (THE FREEMAN)