RP lagging behind treatment of AIDS

Despite a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing most Filipinos satisfied with government’s efforts in preventing the outbreak of various deadly diseases, a UN report said the Philippines was behind when it comes to AIDS. The SWS survey reported that government’s health workers enjoyed the highest net satisfaction rating at positive 31.

The relatively good public impression on the government regarding this particular issue may be attributed to the success of the Department of Health in preventing a major outbreak of killer diseases such as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), bird flu (avian influenza), and recently, the much-feared Influenza A(H1N1).

The Philippines, however, continues to miss its goal of controlling AIDS and HIV infections.

“For a long time, I heard people refer to the HIV epidemic in the country as ‘hidden and growing,’” said Lorna Garcia, president of Babae Plus, a support group of Filipino women living with HIV.

“Growing? Those of us living with HIV have been saying that, even when no one cared to listen. Hidden? Look at the figures and the message is clear. The epidemic is not hidden somewhere. It is here and it is out,” she added.

Expectations from government

There may not be an outbreak of AIDS and HIV infections in the country yet. But because of the sharp increase in the number of infections at least for the past decade here, the health sector is expecting a more stringent action from the government.

Teresita Marie Bagasao, coordinator of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in the Philippines, said, “The speed and degree by which the situation will turn from bad to worse will be determined by how decisively the country confronts the situation now.”

Based on the report of UNAIDS, the country lags in the prevention and control of the said disease.

“At a time when the number of new infections globally has decreased by 17 percent between 2000 and 2009, the number of new infections in the country increased by 334 percent in that same period,” according to the report.

This fact is one of those keeping the Philippines from achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG), one of which is that of “halting and reversing the spread of HIV.”

“The country is off track from achieving this target by the 2015 MDG deadline, given just another five years,” the UNAIDS reported, referring to the Philippines.

Alarming situation

Even the Department of Health admitted that the situation must be controlled soon.

“The threat is real,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd said.

“The number of infected persons in the Philippines is growing and the infection is spreading fast in most-at-risk populations [MARP], such as freelance female sex workers, men having sex with men, and injecting drug users, among others. We have to stop the spread and gain control of the situation,” he added.

The figures are very alarming. According to the Health department, the reported number of new HIV infections by the end of 2009 will increase by more than 100 percent compared to 2007.

During the National Dissemination Forum on the 2009 Integrated HIV Behavioral and Serologic Surveillance, Dr. Eric Tayag, director of the Health department’s National Epidemiology Center, said that this national HIV survey among most-at-risk populations showed a dramatic 500-percent increase from one HIV-positive most-at-risk population per 1,000 in 2007 to five in 1,000 by year 2009.

The prevalence in specific cases are: 1,050 per 100,000 men having sex with men; 540 per 100,000 freelance female sex workers; 230 per 100,000 registered female sex workers; and 210 per 100,000 injecting drug users.

UNAIDS is concerned that with the disturbing results of the survey against the backdrop of poor national coverage of AIDS programs and services, the situation will likely get worse before it gets better.

The report said that AIDS programs and services would only start to demonstrate impact after three to five years, and when at least 60 percent of the target population has been covered by prevention programs and show evidence of behavior change.

To sustain gains and impact of HIV prevention programs would require universal access coverage, or reaching as close to 100 percent of the target population as possible. But only 20 percent of groups at most risk of HIV infection in the Philippines have been reached by prevention activities.

Information drive

Duque reiterated that the Department of Health (DOH) was determined to boost its information drive and to strengthen its prevention program and services against HIV and AIDS. But he pointed out that the efforts of the department alone were not enough.

“The DOH will need the help of other sectors, other agencies of government, the LGUs [local government units], civic society and individuals and communities. All of us have a responsibility and role in stopping this disease,” he said.

Bagasao agreed, saying that the situation calls for a collective action.

“This is not just a wake-up call, it’s a rude awakening,” she added. “Today, when we know what works, inadequate and inappropriate action is not an option. We need to collectively act now to increase coverage on prevention.” –ROMMEL C. LONTAYAO REPORTER, Manila Times