Cavite steps up battle vs HIV/AIDS

CAVITE, Philippines – Officials in Cavite are strengthening their battle against HIV-AIDS by boosting the protection and awareness program following a report from the Department of Health (DoH) that the prevalence of the disease is high in the province.

Dr. Ma. Vilma V. Diez, Provincial Health Office (PHO) director, and other concerned department heads are set to meet Governor Juanito Victor ”Jonvic” Remulla to discuss and address the HIV-AIDS problem in the area. PHO officials, citing a report of the DoH, said that Cavite ranked second, after National Capitol Region (NCR), with the most number of ”people living with HIV” (PLHIV) in the country. PHO Medical Officer III Doctor Gerardo S. Alcantara said that Cavite has an accumulated 185 HIV-AID cases, based on 1984-2010 records obtained from DoH.

”There are 185 cases of HIV-AIDS in Cavite through the years. We don’t call them victims (those afflicted) but PLHIV (people living with HIV),” said Alcantara in an interview.

Alcantara, who is also the chairman of Cavite HIV Task Force, said that the number of PLHIV in Cavite has reached alarming state, which should be given concern and addressed by all concerned. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)-AIDS (Acquired Immuno Syndrome) is dreaded as there is no cure for the disease.

Many people afflicted by the disease have already died. Health officials are doing everything to address the problem in Cavite with the HIV-AIDS prevention, control and awareness program despite the meager budget that they get from the provincial government. Samson has also expressed alarm and concern over the reported number of PLHIV in Cavite. –Manila Bulletin