MANILA, Philippines — Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections recorded in the Philippines have broken from a 20-year low to a rapidly spreading disease, particularly in Cebu, Davao and Manila, a new report by the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) revealed over the weekend.
The report titled “HIV in Asia and the Pacific: Getting to Zero” cited HIV prevalence among people who inject drugs in the city of Cebu accelerated rapidly from 0.6 percent to 53 percent in just two years, between 2009 and 2011.
In Manila and again Cebu, HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men is now estimated up to 5 percent.
This is in complete contrast to what is happening across Asia and the Pacific.
Although an estimated 4.9 million people were living with HIV in the region in 2009 – a figure that has remained relatively stable since 2005 – a significant 20 percent decline in new infections was seen between 2001 and 2009 from 450,000 to 360,000, the report said.
Cambodia, India, Myanmar and Thailand have reduced their HIV infection rates significantly with intensive, wide-reaching HIV prevention programs for people who buy and sell sex.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has expressed concern over the alarming rise in HIV cases in the country. –ROY C. MABASA and CZARINA NICOLE O. ONG, Manila Bulletin
July 2025
Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”
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 #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
July
3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 July – International Plastic Bag Free Day
5 July – World Youth Skills Day
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day
17 July – World Day for International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons
Monthly Observances:
Schools Safety Month
Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week
Daily Observances:
First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines
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