HIV-AIDS crossing to general population in Phl

MANILA, Philippines – The human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome epidemic in the country is crossing over to the general population as female sex workers have contributed significantly to the number of HIV/AIDS cases, the Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC) reported yesterday.

“After more than 30 years, the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country is crossing to the general population,” PNAC Secretariat head Ferchito Avelino told The STAR as World AIDS Day was observed.

“In the past, we were limited to the MSM (men having sex with men) and PWID (people who inject drugs) population. But now we have the bridge from the high-risk population to the general population. This is a cause for alarm,” Avelino added.

He said that seven years ago, MSM and PWID groups replaced commercial sex workers as the leading contributors of HIV cases in the country.

According to Avelino, female sex workers could spread the AIDS virus faster, not only because they could have multiple sex partners but also because their partners could spread the virus to others.

He said commercial sex workers do not comply with the government requirement to undergo regular screening for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

The Department of Health (DOH) registered 537 new HIV cases and 59 AIDS cases with 17 deaths last October. The figure brought to 5,010 the total number of HIV/AIDS recorded cases in the country this year.

Since 1984, the DOH had recorded 21,526 HIV cases and 1,971 of them have progressed into AIDS, with 1,091 deaths.

Avelino said there is a need to encourage HIV testing in the country to encourage high-risk individuals to undergo regular screening for HIV.

“We would like to popularize HIV testing just like the testing for TB and other infections so that people will not be ashamed to go to clinics if they think they are high-risk. If you are infected, it is important that you know it and that you get the proper treatment,” he said.

Avelino said public awareness on HIV should be increased as many Filipinos still believe that the AIDS virus could be acquired from mosquito bites and kissing.

Prevention, not rejection

Meanwhile, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) yesterday launched #Prevention NOT Condemnation campaign.

In a statement, NCCP general secretary Rex Reyes Jr. said people living with AIDS should not be rejected.

“We support those who are living with HIV/AIDS as well as the others vulnerable to HIV – gays, bisexuals, transgender people, young women, people in prison, people who inject drugs and sex workers,” Reyes said.

“The Church does not see HIV as a punishment from God and instead offers hospitality and not rejection,” he added. –-Sheila Crisostomo (The Philippine Star) with Evelyn Macairan