DOH: No need to avoid HIV patients

CEBU, Philippines – With the sudden increase in the number of persons with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the Department of Health (DOH) 7 is organizing a continuous information dissemination regarding the disease.

Myrna Alaba, site implementation coordinator for Global Fund HIV Project, said this is aimed at correcting misconceptions about persons with HIV.

One of the myths that they want to correct is the belief that the virus can be transmitted through a simple hand shake.

Health officials want to stress that the public don't have to avoid HIV patients since the virus can be transmitted only in three ways: through blood transfusion, sexual contact and breastfeeding.

The DOH celebrated the World Aids Day last December 1. But they continue to hold a series of conferences to educate the public about HIV, especially its causes. In yesterday's forum of the Association of Government Information Officers, Alaba stressed that there is no vaccine for HIV and it is not curable, although preventable.

"Let's not ask about the other patients. Instead, we must examine our own behaviors and ask ourselves if we are vulnerable to the disease," Alaba said in Cebuano.

From 1989-2008, only three to four cases were detected in Cebu. There were 10 cases in 2009 but as of September this year, they recorded 173 new cases. (FREEMAN)