TUCP warns against alarming rise of HIV among younger OFWs

THE Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Sunday said the number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive overseas Filipino workers (OFW) is expected to top the 3,000-mark this year.

TUCP President and former senator Ernesto Herrera, whose labor center is a member of the multisectoral Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC), made the statement, as the number of OFWs known to have been found HIV-positive reached 2,800, with the addition of 162 new cases from January to March this year.

“This is very sad because many OFWs who are getting infected are at the prime of their lives in terms of productivity,” said Herrera, former chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development.

He said OFWs now comprise some 16 percent of the aggregate 17,948 cases in the Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry.

HIV causes the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS. While the disease does not have any known cure, the World Health Organization (WHO) said, “huge reductions have been seen in rates of death and suffering when use is made of a potent antiretroviral regimen, particularly in early stages.”

The Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry said some 98 percent of all HIV-positive OFWs, or 2,735 cases, acquired the virus as a result of high-risk sexual contact.

It said around 81 percent of all HIV-positive OFWs, or 2,264 cases, are males with the median age of 34 years.

Meanwhile, a total of 1,432 new HIV cases were recorded countrywide from January to March this year, up 31.5 percent from 1,089 in the same quarter in 2013.

In the whole of last year, 4,814 cases were detected nationwide, up 44.2 percent compared to 3,338 in 2012.

HIV is being spread in the country primarily through high-risk sexual contact, predominantly male-to-male sex, and secondarily via needle-sharing among injecting drug users, the PNAC said.

Moreover,Herrera said the TUCP is pushing for the passage of new legislation that would provide greater support to and stronger protection for HIV-positive individuals, particularly against employment and workplace discrimination.

He was referring to Senate Bill 186, the proposed new AIDS Prevention and Control Law, introduced by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

The bill seeks to improve the living conditions of HIV-positive people through greater access to treatment, care and support. It also sets tougher penalties for entities and individuals who discriminate against HIV-positive people, as well as those who violate their rights to confidentiality.

In the House of Representatives, the measure strengthening the Philippines comprehensive health policy on HIV and AIDS was marked as one of the priority bills by the leadership.

Herrera also hit the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for not doing enough preventive education campaigns.

“It would seem that the DOLE has been inadequate when it comes to raising awareness of HIV, both among outbound and returning OFWs,” he said.

Herrera reminded the DOLE that under the 1998 AIDS Prevention and Control Law, the DOLE, through the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, is duty-bound “to ensure that all OFWs shall undergo or attend a seminar on the cause, prevention and consequences of HIV/AIDS before certification for overseas employment.” –Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz, Businessmirror