AIDS cases rising in Baguio: Health execs

By Carlito C. Dar

BAGUIO CITY – Acute Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Human Immuno Virus (HIV) cases in this city are rising and health officials are alarmed.

Dr. Ma. Lorena Santos of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, confirmed in a media forum that since May 2006 to April 2012, they attended to 45 HIV/AIDS cases which included nine deaths.

           

These included patients from outside the city or from nearby provinces. 

           

Reproductive Health and Wellness Center head Dr. Celiaflor Brillantes, also disclosed since 1992 they recorded 49 HIV/AIDS cases, including 17 patients who died.

           

She also bared that in 2011 alone, they have recorded eight HIV cases and based on their monitoring,  HIV patients are getting younger among male having sex with fellow male (MSM).

           

HIV cases reportedly develop to full blown AIDS when a patient’s immune system goes down.

           

Health officials advocated a healthy and monogamous sex life saying there is still no cure for HIV during a worldwide rite for  victims of the dreaded diseases.

           

The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, coordinated by the Global Network of People living with HIV is one of the world’s oldest and largest grassroots mobilization campaigns for HIV awareness in the world.

           

Started in 1983, the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial takes place every third Sunday in May and is led by a coalition of some 1,200 community organizations in 115 countries.

           

For Baguio City, it had been the practice the past years to join the commemoration through the City’s AIDS Watch Council which is composed of government and private agencies and institutions.

           

The AWAC is under the leadership of Dr. Charles Cheng, a private medical practitioner, with the RHWC of the City Health Services Office as working secretariat.

           

For this year, the city commemoration took place on May 25 at the Malcolm Square, known as the People’s Park, where a simple program with exhibits and candle lighting ceremony  took place.