HIV/AIDS cases still on the rise — health official

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Nov. 26 (PIA) — Despite massive efforts, the cases of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in the country have continued to rise, a health official here said.

“If we look at the global map on HIV/AIDS, Philippines has remained on the red,” said Dr. Alah Baby Vingno, assistant provincial health officer of South Cotabato as she reported on the the HIV/AIDS during the 1st Regional HIV/AIDS Congress at The Farm@Carpenter Hill here Tuesday.

“This means that the number of HIV cases in the country increases by more than 25 percent each year.”

Citing data from the HIV/AIDS Anti-Retroviral Registry of the Philippines (HARP), Dr. Vingno said, the number new HIV cases in the country has increased by 1,038 percent in only 6 years (2008 to 2014).

This translates, she explained, to 22 new cases each day at present as compared to only 1 case per day in 2008.

Celestino Ramirez of the AIDS Society of the Philippines who also spoke at the congress, noted that in June this year, Philippines has reached a record of one case per hour.

Vingno expounded that most of the HIV cases in the country are getting younger, with ages ranging from 15 to 24 years old and 25 to 34 years old. Majority are men having sex with other men.

According to the HARP, as of September 2015, the country has 28, 426 persons living with HIV.

Meanwhile, SOCCSKSARGEN Region has recorded a total of 551 HIV/AIDS cases from 1989 to September 2015.

Of this number, 348 are reported in South Cotabato and General Santos City; 314 of them are male.

Same database indicated that 120 are within ages 15 to 24 years old and 171 are within ages 25 to 34 years old.

“Based on the trend that the number of cases is increasing, it is alarming,” Dr. Francisco Mateo, assistant regional director of the Department of Health 12, said when asked to assess the HIV/AIDS situation in SOCCSKSARGEN Region.

Along with other health officials, however, he noted that the rising number of reported HIV cases could also be attributed to the increasing awareness, especially among members of the target sectors, regarding the importance of undergoing HIV testing.

“Instead of blaming my fellow health workers, I do recognize them because they were able to entice individuals to surface and submit for voluntary counseling and testing, which is why the number of HIV cases in South Cotabato spiked,” said Dr. Rogelio Aturdido Jr., provincial health officer.

He emphasized that knowing the victims of HIV, the capability of the health service providers and the support system available “is the beginning in winning the battle against HIV AIDS.” (DEDoguiles-PIA 12)

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