DOH sounds alarm on HIV; 313,000 cases seen by 2030

By Charina Clarisse L. Echaluce, Manila Bulletin, Dec 1, 2017

The number of individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the Philippines is expected to rise to over 313,000 by 2030, from the current 47,000, the Department of Health (DOH) warned.

In the press conference for the celebration of World AIDS Day yesterday, the Health Secretary Francisco Duque III stressed that HIV and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) continue to pose “a significant threat to Filipino families.”

“Thirty-three years after the first case of HIV was detected in the Philippines, the country now has a total of 46,985 HIV positive cases reported to the Department of Health from January 1984 to August 2017. The total number of people living with HIV in the Philippines is estimated to reach 142,000 by 2022, and 313,000 by 2030,” Duque disclosed.

Risk groups

“The Philippine HIV epidemic remains concentrated among key populations who engage in risky behaviors. From January to August 2017, 84 percent of newly reported cases were among males who have sex with males (MSM), and transgender women who have sex with males (TGW). The young population is not spared from risks and vulnerabilities to HIV as two in three estimated new infections are from 15- to 24-year-old MSM and TGW,” he added.

Duque, however, said despite the increase in HIV cases in the country, a measure of success in fighting the epidemic has also been realized.

Anti-HIV gains

“Successes have been achieved so far in our fight against the HIV epidemic – from prevention, treatment and care, as echoed by this year’s theme ‘Right to Health,’” he stated.

At present, he disclosed, the health department is close to having 200 Social Hygiene Clinics nationwide that provide HIV and STI prevention services to key populations.

“In terms of HIV testing, the DOH continuously supports the conduct of free HIV testing among key populations as delivered by Social Hygiene Clinics. HIV testing is essential in the prevention of HIV transmission, and a crucial step in providing life-saving treatment to diagnosed PLHIV [people living with HIV],” he added.

Treatment

In case of HIV treatment, the DOH has also been providing access to free Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) to HIV patients.

“Currently, there’s a total of 51 DOH-designated treatment facilities offering anti-retroviral drugs in the Philippines. As of August 2017, a total of 22,413 people with HIV are currently enrolled on ART – 33 percent of the estim

Global numbers

Many countries today are facing this health issue affecting individuals, families, and health care systems, Duque said.

“According to UNAIDS, a total of 36.7 million people are living with HIV globally in 2016. Of these, 19.5 million PLHIV are on HIV treatment. Approximately 5.1 million PLHIV are in the Asia-Pacific region, including the 270,000 new infections in the year 2016,” he disclosed.

The health official noted that the department’s goal is to maintain the less than one percent prevalence.

“Almost all Asian countries’ HIV epidemic are classified as low level epidemic. For example, only less than one percent of the general population is living with HIV, including the Philippines. In the Philippines, we strive to maintain our prevalence at less than one percent,” he said.