AN OFFICIAL of the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) said Thursday the Philippines is already facing a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) “epidemic” given the “fast and furious” spread of the disease.
UNAIDS Country Director Bai Bagasao said the 22,527 HIV cases in the country can already be considered as an epidemic, although it is not yet a “generalized” one.
“Ang kagandahan pa din is it is concentrated dito sa Pilipinas. Ang concentrated epidemic, hindi pa kita sa general population,” said Bagasao.
She said the country remains fortunate that the persistent HIV spread is concentrated mostly among men-having-sex-with-men (MSMs), commercial sex workers (SWs), and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
She added that the spread in the country of HIV can already be considered as “fast and furious” given the trend of new cases being recorded monthly.
From only 250 reported cases per year from 2000 to 2008, the number has ballooned to 3,338 cases in 2012.
“There have been and shall be more than 5,000 new HIV cases per year beginning in 2013,” said Bagasao.
The UNAIDS official attributed the spread of HIV in the Philippines to continued low condom use, especially among the most-at-risk population.
Their data showed that less than 40 percent of MSMs use condoms while 65 percent of SWs practice safe sex.
Both are lower than the target 80 percent condom use among most-at-risk population.
Aside from the 22,500 HIV cases, Bagasao said they believe that the actual number is higher than the records of the Department of Health (DOH) for the period 1984-2014.
“No country can say the exact number of people living with HIV. The 22,500, that is the medium range. But it can go as high as 35,000 right now,” said Bagasao.
The difference, she said, can be attributed to the continued refusal of individuals to undergo HIV testing over fear of stigma.
Bagasao then warned that the country may be in danger of missing Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 6, which is to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015 and begin to reverse the trend.
“For the MDG for HIV, it is threatened. We are nowhere near the goal as shown in the indicators,” said Bagasao. (HDT/Sunnex)
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)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
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September –
5 Sept – Intl Day of Charity
7 Sept – Intl Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
8 Sept – International Literacy Day
12 Sept – United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation
15 Sept – International Day of Democracy
16 Sept – International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
17 Sept – World Patient Safety Day
18 Sept – International Equal Pay Day
21 Sept – International Day of Peace
26 Sept – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
27 Sept – World Tourism Day
28 Sept – International Day for Universal Access to Information
29 Sept – International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
30 Sept – World Maritime Day
Monthly Observances:
Health, Safety and Sanitation Month
National Clean-up Month
Civil Service Month
National Peace Consciousness Month
Social Security Month
Rule of Law Month
National Teachers’ Month (Sept 5-Oct 4)
Weekly Observances:
Sept 17 – 23:
World Clean and Green Week
Week 2: Education Week
Week 4: Medicine Week
Last Week: National Family Week
Daily Observances:
Third Saturday:
International Coastal Clean-up Day
Third Monday: World Health Day
Last Friday: National Maritime Day
Sept 8: National Literacy Day
Sept 15: Philippine Medicine Day
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