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
World Day for Safety and Health at Work
“Safety and health at work every day!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations against serious violations of Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government
(NUG) of Myanmar.
Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
March – Women’s Role in History Month
April – Month of Planet Earth
Weekly Observances:
Last Week of March: Protection and Gender Fair Treatment of the Girl Child Week
Last Week of April – World Immunization Week
Daily Observances:
Mar 25 – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transallantic Slave Trade
Mar 27– Earth Hour
Apr 21 – Civil Service Day
Apr 22 – World Earth Day
Apr 28 – World Day for Safety and Health at Work
