22 persons affected with AIDS nationwide daily

By John Adi

BAGUIO CITY— At least 22 cases per day rate are being affected with HIV-AIDS virus nationwide daily, mostly youth.

This was bared recently during orientation for regional government officials on Reproductive Health and Sustainable Development Goals.

Philippine Legislator's Committee on Population and Development Foundation Inc. (PLCPD) executive director Rom Dongeto said AIDS-HIV infection a now a public health crisis that has to be addressed. 

He said they would welcome support of the President for full implementation of RH Law evwen as RH advocates said they also wanted the President to resolve issue of funding for procurement of contraceptives and in fight against HIV-AIDS.

The action of the President on the fight against drugs should also be done in the fight against HIV-AIDS, Dongeto said.

“Mr. President, sa anim na taon ng inyong panunungkulan, magiging malubha po ang problema ng HIV at AIDS. Humihingi po kami ng tulong sa inyo upang ibigay po ninyo ang ayuda, supporta upang ang problema sa health na ito ay maresolbahan natin sa panahon ng inyong panunungkulan.”

Reproductive Health advocates urged President Rodrigo Duterte to give more support to  implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health law and fight against HIV-AIDS.

Last year, Congress lessened budget for purchase of family planning supplies by P1 billion.

The Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order on public procurement and distribution of implanon, a family planning commodity popular among women, and impending expiration of certification of many other products pose a challenge for the Department of Health to pursue serious family planning program.

Family planning is one of elements of reproductive health.

Local government units also reported difficulties in implementing the RPRH Law especially in providing funding and required human resource, according to the PLCPD.

“This situation cites need to strengthen the commitment of policymakers to defend RH and capacitate stakeholders to pursue the implementation of the law as well as the achievement of the SDGs, particularly at the local level”, Dongeto said.