By Dennis R. Chan
BAGUIO CITY -- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) cases here have alarmingly increased this month prompting the Department of Health to be on high alert.
DOH authorities said cases went up to 21 this August as compared to the previous months and the patients are now under the supervision and care of DOH.
Dr. Lorena Santos of the OB-Gyne department of Baguio General Hospital said out of the 21 HIV-affected persons, eight have fully grown AIDS or while six died.
She said most victims were aged 18, 22,24 and 25.
Santos said HIV affected persons are now getting younger because of their liberated way of life.” They want to experience and explore everything like sex, not considering the possible danger that they could get into.”
She added three of the patients are Overseas Foreign Workers (OFWs) who could have gotten the disease abroad where HIV cases are high.
Three were from Baguio and the rest from other parts of Luzon.
Health officials said the disease can be transmitted through unprotected sex but still a lot of the people ignore precautions.
The DOH is now doing measures to stop spread of the disease in the city like promoting abstinence as a way of life.
DOH authorities said sex education is still the best way to teach not only the young but also adults who are high risk.
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