AIDS cases rising with 21 afflicted per day

Men having sex with men top cases 

By Carlito Dar

BAGUIO CITY – ADIS/HIV cases are still rising with one HIV case diagnosed per 24 hours since 2008.

Department of Health records from January to April 2015 showed around 21 new HIV cases a day -- mostly males having sex with males.

Dept. of Health Cordillera OIC regional director Dr. AmelitaPangilinan bared this here saying the DOH, local government units and stakeholders are collaborating on programs and policies to address alarming rise in HIV-AIDS.

Data from Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center showed from May 2006 to May this year,179 HIV cases were recorded including two children ( aged 2 and  4 years old  inflicted by HIV virus from their mother).

Records bared not  all patients afflicted with AIDS/HIV were residents of Baguio. 

During the DOH-led AIDS candlelight memorial ceremony at Prince Plaza Hotel here recently, Pangilinan said much has yet to be done to curb the menace.

Christian (not his real name), a 27- year-old male living with HIV (PLHIV) who attended the ceremony in honor of those who died of the disease, urged young adults like him, to practice healthy lifestyle, be wary of risky sexual behavior and learn more about sexual/reproductive health.

“We are suffering from an illness, fear of death in each day of our life and what we need most is compassion and support,  not stigma or discrimination, for us to go on with our lives like anyone else in our society,” he said.

“There is still life even with HIV, we have learned our lesson, but we still have a life to live in which we need your support.”

He urged ceremony participants to join advocacy against HIV/AIDS to lessen deaths.

Christian is among the PLHIVs who are not only fighting to stay alive and have a normal life, but are feeling stigma, discrimination and rejection from the public especially from their families.

HIV/AIDS has become an alarming concern in the country and worldwide that the DOH has included it in its five priority health issues in its newly launched High Impact (HI – 5) Program.

Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center Testing and Treatment Center head Dr. Maria Lorena Santos, in the same forum, said like any health illness, prevention through the practice of healthy lifestyle and better health awareness especially on reproductive health and proper sexual behavior is essential.

“HIV/AIDS has no cure yet. Being faithful or not engaging in multiple sexual partners or other risky sexual behavior are means to prevent HIV infection,” she said.

She bared the DOH ABCDE advocacy against HIV/AIDS in  which A stands  for abstain from Sex, B for  be faithful to your partner, C for practice  safe sex through the use of comdom, D for not using drugs,  and E for Educating yourself.