PB pushes Local Aids Council

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Board has urged all local government units in the province to establish a functional Local Aids Council following reports of the alarming state of Human Immunodeficiency Virus cases in Cebu.

A resolution sponsored by Board Member Thadeo Ouano urging LGUs to establish a monitoring body was approved by the provincial legislative body.

Ouano said there is a need for proper coordination between the local implementers, health officials and the Department of Health to fully operate the proposed Local Aids Council.

According to him, LGUs play a big role to help monitor, mitigate and control the spread of HIV especially the unrecorded cases in the community.

The DOH noted a rapid increase in the number of HIV / Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Hepatitis C cases in Cebu.

DOH-7 reported more than 6,000 estimated Injectable Drug Users (IDU) in the province that are susceptible to HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C because of their rampant use of unsterilized needles and syringes and sharing the same to other IDUs.

HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C are transmitted through body fluids like bloods, semen, breast milk and other liquid discharges through sexual intercourse, blood transfusion, contaminated manicure sets, unsterilized dental equipments, tattooing and most vulnerable cause is through IDUs due to contaminated needles and syringes.

DOH also reported that sharing of needles among drug dependents is the leading cause of spread of the HIV in the region.

Based on the 2010 data, nubain, an injectable painkiller, is usually the drug of choice.

As of December 2010, there were 182 cases of HIV in Cebu City alone. (FREEMAN)