The Department of Health (DOH) said 37 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases in the Philippines in March.
In its report, the DOH said 37 cases represented 12 percent of the 313 reported new HIV cases among Filipinos.
The 37 patients included 31 males and six females. Their ages ranged from 20 to 56 years old.
“All acquired the infection through sexual contact (17 heterosexual, 13 homosexual, and seven bisexual).
According to the health website MedlinePlus, HIV “kills or damages the body’s immune system cells” while AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is “the most advanced stage of infection with HIV.”
Average of 10 new HIV cases daily
The DOH said a new high daily average of 10 new HIV cases were reported in March.
Rep. Arnel Ty, of the sectoral party LPG Marketers’ Association (LPG-MA) and an advocate of AIDS prevention, said the 313 new HIV infections spotted in March were the highest-ever in a month, and surpassed the previous record of 274 detected in February.
In a news release on Wednesday, Ty said the new cases jacked up to 799 the cumulative number of HIV infections discovered from January to March this year, up 65 percent compared to the 483 reported over the same quarter in 2011.
The lawmaker urged President Benigno Simeon Aquino III “to certify as urgent” the proposed new AIDS Prevention and Control Law, or House Bill 5312.
“The new legislation has become absolutely imperative to effectively suppress the HIV epidemic,” Ty said.
The bill seeks to earmark P400 million to jumpstart a new National HIV and AIDS Plan that has definite strategies, operating guidelines, and targets.
Together with Representatives Maria Isabelle Climaco (Zamboanga City), Janette Garin (Iloilo), Jorge Banal (Quezon City), and Kaka Bag-ao (Akbayan), Ty introduced the bill last year.
Sen. Miriam Santiago recently filed a counterpart bill in the Senate.
The National HIV and AIDS Registry now lists an aggregate of 9,163 cases, with 91 percent of them (or 8,369) infected on account of sexual contact. – VVP, GMA News
July 2025
Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
July
3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 July – International Plastic Bag Free Day
5 July – World Youth Skills Day
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day
17 July – World Day for International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons
Monthly Observances:
Schools Safety Month
Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week
Daily Observances:
First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines
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