Tourism contributes to rise of HIV cases in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines — Tourism activities have been identified by the Department of Health (DOH) as among the contributing factors for the increasing HIV cases in Cebu.

Of the 5,300 reported cases of HIV in Central Visayas from January to September this year, 91 percent or 4,913 cases were recorded in Cebu.

DOH says that aside from being highly urbanized, Cebu has been a hot tourist destination, thus, leading to increased cases of HIV.

"Diri (Cebu), daghan kaayo tag sites in terms of mga imnanan, laaganan sa mga batan-on, so more or less, diha man gud nato makita ilahang mga bonding-bonding," Francis Irvin Baring of DOH said.

Baring also added that in DOH's prevention site, they warned "not to take too much alcohol" and "don't take drugs" because it can distort the mind and can lead to risky behavior that create avenues to expose someone to HIV.

The exposure of the younger generation to activities that lead to risky behavior is one of the main reasons why HIV patients are getting younger by the year.

According to DOH data, an average of 32 people are diagnosed with HIV per day in the Philippines.

In Cebu, injecting drug use remains the number one cause of HIV cases since the disease's first recording.

This is specifically unique in the province since all the recordings on this mode of transmission in Central Visayas were in Cebu since 1984.

The most common substance used by injection is Nalbuphine Hydrochloride or more commonly known as Nubain, a drug used for pain medication. — (FREEMAN)