The number of units of donated blood contaminated with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) rose by 18 percent this year, according to data from the latest Philippine HIV/AIDS Registry.
The registry’s data, which was posted on the Philippine National Aids Council website, showed that there were 167 units of HIV-positive donated blood as recorded by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) from January to August this year.
About 142 HIV-positive units were found in the same time period last year.
Of the increase in HIV-tainted blood donations, LPG Marketers Association partylist Rep. Arnel Ty said “the rising figures clearly suggest that we have many HIV cases which remain undiagnosed and unreported.”
Ty is one of the authors of the proposed Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support Policy Act. The bill enjoins specific agencies to support Filipinos living with HIV, as well as raise awareness about the disease.
Data from the registry also showed that HIV cases in general are also on the rise, following a trend that has been going on for the last decade.
From Jan. to Aug. this year, there was a total of 2,150 recorded HIV cases, with 272 cases reported in August alone. In the same period last year, there were 1,416 recorded HIV cases.
According to the registry, the highest number of infections is reported to have come from sexual contact. Less than one percent of the total number of HIV cases since 1984 was transmitted through a blood transfusion. — DVM, GMA News
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
