HIV cases up in past three years

There was a sharp increase in the number of diagnosed HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) cases in the country in the last three years, the Department of Health said on Friday.

“In 2000, an average of one new case is diagnosed every three days.  In 2007, it rose to one new case per day. Last year, there were two new cases diagnosed in a day,” Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral said.

According to the Health department, majority of the newly recorded cases belong to the economically productive age group.

“In 2000, an average of one new case is diagnosed every three days.  In 2007, it rose to one new case per day.  Last year, there were two new cases diagnosed in a day,” Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral said.

Cabral, however, said that because most infections can be found among economically productive individuals, the business sector is in a position to help curb the rising trend in HIV infections by setting up policies and programs in the workplace in consonance to provisions in Republic Act 8504, or the AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998.

“The rising number of HIV cases in the workforce makes it imperative for business to take drastic action to prevent new infections in the labor sector,” Cabral said.

“HIV/AIDS program in the workplace is a vital response because the disease increases business costs like increased burden of healthcare provision, lower productivity of infected employees, loss of skilled workers, increased risks in the workplace and indifference among employees,” the health chief pointed out.

Health officials said a one-day national HIV/AIDS Summit will be held on April 12 to inform national leaders on the current state of HIV/AIDS in the country and the need for urgent action towards meeting the Millennium Development Goal on controlling HIV cases. –Rommel C. Lontayao, Manila Times