AIDs victims seek compassion, understanding

ILOILO CITY, June 1 (PIA) — George Bartolome said he and other people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) continue to reach out to people for their compassion and understanding about their plight even as they seek for a cure to their ailment.

“Today, our community is reaching out to touch the lives and hearts of people for their compassion and understanding and for them to recognize that it is the virus that kills and people who have the virus are vulnerable”, said Bartolome, President of the United Western Visayas Inc., a community of people living with HIV in the region during the recent commemoration of the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial here in Iloilo City.

Bartolome added that “while we seek for compassionate treatment, care and support services that are delivered with respect and dignity, we also share our responsibility in reaching out to people and remind them of their vulnerability and their rights to be informed and educated about the facts surrounding the HIV and AIDS”.

He further hoped that the people brought together by the candle lighting activity will touch each other lives through love and care and will be united in the fight against HIV/AIDS which despite the progresses in science remains incurable.

Bartolome said AIDS is the fourth leading cause of death globally. He noted the UNAIDS data indicating that as of 2009, there are 33.3 million people around the world living with HIV/AIDS and the disease claims the lives of 1.8 million every year.

Still citing the UNAIDS 2009 report, Bartolome said more than 60 million people have been infected with HIV since the pandemic began and more than 90% of people affected are living in the developing world.

In the Philippines, there is an approximately 6,498 Filipinos living with HIV based on the record of the National HIV and AIDS Registry since 1984. The Department of Health record showed that for the first quarter of this year, 500 new cases of HIV were recorded in the country.

“The DOH now fears on a potential increase of HIV/AIDS cases in the country, which is more likely to reach up to 46,000 by the year 2015”, said Bartolome.

In Panay Island, Bartolome said the United Western Visayas Inc. has currently 64 members and there are still a number who are under treatment with the HACT of the Western Visayas Medical Center while there others who were already gone.

“One of the primary factors cited by DOH that trigger the quick surge of HIV cases in the country is the frequent intercourse with different partners”, said Bartolome, adding “and those affected are people between 20 and 35 age brackets”.

Bartolome said the commemoration is also a venue for them to further reach out and touch the lives of people to bring forth their agenda towards achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support as part of the country’s Millennium Development Goals for HIV and AIDS.

To combat HIV/AIDS is one out of the eight commitments of the country in the MDG which is aimed to reduce poverty, if not eradicate it by 2015. (LAF/PIA-Iloilo)