Six new HIV cases reported in Baguio

By Mary Meenally Arpon and Roief Reyes

BAGUIO CITY - The Baguio City Health Office reported six new cases of Human Immuno Deficiency Virus/ Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or (HIV/AIDS) for the first quarter of 2011.

The patients’ ages ranged from 22 to 39 years old. One was a female aged 39 and the rest males aged 22, 27, 28, 32 and 35, all confessed “MSM” or men having sex with men.

According to the CHO’s HIV/AIDS registry, there were 47 cases recorded from 1992 to 2011 with ages ranging from 17 to 45 years old. A total of 17 died.

The CHO advised people suspected to have contracted the disease to seek medical attention at once.

“If they are curious with their reproductive health and still don’t know their health status, it is advisable to come here for them to be tested,” CHO nursing attendant Emilio Callao Jr. said.

Females both sexually active and non-active were also requested to avail of PAP smear.

The first day to 14th day of menstruation is the best time to have PAP smear as it detects and infected cell causing cervical cancer which is the second leading cause of death among females.

However, if there is no infected cell found PAP smear can be done every two years.

Moreover, CHO officials said they were pushing for a clean entertainment in all the night clubs in the city by educating the managers against the danger of allowing sexual activities in their establishments.

For entertainers, PAP smear at least once a week was prescribed and the test could be availed at the CHO.

Apart from this, a lecture about HIV/AIDS during first Friday every month will be set for them.

“For couples we are advising them although it’s up to them if they would want to use contraceptives but for those who have multiple partners to protect themselves because we don’t know if who are infected by the virus,” Callao said.

Menopausal women were also advised to have themselves tested.