HIV/AIDS cases in PH on the rise

The number of HIV/AIDS cases in the Philippines increased by 25 percent in the span of 10 years despite the 50 percent drop in the rate of infection worldwide, a United Nations (UN) report released on Wednesday shows.

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) annual report titled “Results” said that from 2001 to 2011, worldwide recorded incidents of HIV cases dramatically dropped by 50 percent. But the rate of infection among adults aged 15 to 49 years old in the Philippines, Bangladesh, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova and Sri Lanka in 2011 was 25 percent higher than in 2001.

The UN study added that 92 percent of HIV cases in the Philippines, Bangladesh, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova and Sri Lanka were due to unprotected sex. The massive reduction of HIV cases worldwide on one hand could be attributed to the successful attempts to educate people about safe sex.

The report also noted that 50 percent reduction in the rate of new HIV infections was achieved across 25 low- and middle-income countries with more than half in Africa, the region most affected by HIV. More than 81 countries are assuming shared responsibilities by increasing domestic investments in HIV response by 50 percent between 2001 and 2011.

Reacting to the report, health officials warned on Wednesday that the absence of a Reproductive Health (RH) bill is hampering the government’s efforts in abating the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Health Assistant Secretary Dr. Eric Tayag and UNAIDS country coordinator Teresita Marie Bagasao made the warning during the Issue Orientation and Policy Forum on HIV/AIDS held at the House of Representatives.

Tayag said that an average of nine new HIV cases are being recorded in the Philippines every day, ballooning the number of recorded cases in the country to 21, 837 with most of the infections involving young people.

He noted that the public’s ignorance about reproductive health services is so glaring with many adolescents remaining tight-lipped when asked about condoms and cashiers in convenience stores frowning over customers who buy condoms.

“When we ask those infected [with HIV] about condom use, they tell us that condoms are not available, that [it is] difficult to buy condoms in their communities. We don’t understand how they can say that. It is a growing concern because more young people are getting infected and condom is not something talked about openly,” Tayag said.

“We are hoping that the RH bill can help in this respect because there are restrictions in teaching sex education in schools. When we ask the students about condoms, all they can do is giggle. [But] condom is something that you can’t talk about in the open,” he added.

Bagasao meanwhile said that the RH measure would provide the necessary consistency in the reproductive health policy.

“One of the salient provisions of the RH bill is the access to information for reproductive health services. As it is, you don’t need parental consent to have sex, but you need to have your parents with you when you avail of testing services [for HIV]. We have to address this inconsistency so I hope that the RH bill becomes a law and is implemented,” Bagasao said.

House Bill 4244 or the Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood, Population and Development Measure mandates the state to guarantee public access to relevant information and education on medically safe, legal, ethical, affordable, effective and quality reproductive health care services, methods, devices and supplies, which do not prevent the implantation of a fertilized ovum as determined by the Food and Drug Administration.

The RH bill is still pending before the House and the Senate. –Fatima Cielo B. Cancel, Llanesca Panti and Neil Alcober Reporters, Manila Times