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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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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