MANILA, Philippines—The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday urged countries in the Western Pacific, including the Philippines, to do more in the fight against the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people.
On the eve of World AIDS Day Saturday, the WHO warned that the gains made against the epidemic over the last decade could be jeopardized unless countries urgently expanded access to health services for these two key sectors.
“We need to strengthen our programs to ensure that these key populations receive the support they need to protect themselves,” said Dr. Shin Young-soo, WHO regional director for the Western Pacific.
“We need to scale up and improve sustained, comprehensive, effective and stigma-free HIV prevention efforts focusing on and working with men who have sex with men, and transgender people,” he added.
According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS 2012 Global Report, HIV epidemics in Asia and the Pacific remain largely concentrated among people who inject drugs, MSM and sex workers.
“HIV prevention coverage remains inadequate for men who have sex with men. There is low coverage in the Philippines and Vietnam at 25 percent. Although China reported more than 75-percent coverage of such programs, a survey of Singaporean and Vietnamese men who have sex with men revealed a high rate of condom use (75 percent),” the WHO said.
“HIV infection among men who have sex with men across the region continues to grow. This requires governments to reassess the effectiveness and quality of existing interventions,” it added.
The agency said an estimated 1.3 million people were living with HIV in the 37 countries in the Western Pacific region, “with 80,000 deaths attributed to AIDS.”
In Cambodia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea, the rate of new HIV infections fell by more than 25 percent between 2001 and 2011, the WHO said. –Philip C. Tubeza, Philippine Daily Inquirer
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
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October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
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