DoH steps up campaign vs HIV/AIDS

Even Malacaang is now alarmed by the rising cases of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the country.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda yesterday said the Palace has instructed Health Secretary Enrique Ona to conduct a more aggressive information campaign for the prevention of HIV/AIDS.

The emphasis of the Department of Health (DoH) is to ensure that the preventive measures undertaken to prevent HIV/AIDS are being undertaken. However, it really depends because this is a personal decision on the part of the people who (expose themselves to the risk of catching the disease). But we continue to promote education on the prevention of HIV/AIDS in the country, Lacierda announced in his regular briefing.

These information dissemination programs should aim to educate people on the various ways to avoid being infected by HIV that causes the dreaded AIDS disease, the Palace spoksman said.

It was reported that a 41-year-old man succumbed to AIDS last month, a casualty confirmed by DoH.

The health department also disclosed 274 newly confirmed HIV cases in the country last month, the highest number recorded in the Philippine HIV/AIDS registry.

This is 72-percent higher than that in the same month last year which logged 159 new cases.

The report also bared that 235 of the new cases were transmitted through sexual contact and that 87 percent were males who had sex with other males.

The DoH report also noted that 24 of these new cases were OFWs, including 22 males and two females between the ages of 22 and 57 years old.

AIDS is a disease of the human immune system caused by the HIV. The illness interferes with the immune system, making patients more likely to get infections, including infections and tumors that do not affect people with working immune systems.

Apart from sexual intercourse, HIV may also be transmitted through blood transfusion, contaminated hypodermic needles and the exchange between mother and child during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. Rocky G. Nazareno, Daily Tribune