AIDS deaths high among Fil-Ams; fewer HIV cases in RP

ANGELES CITY – While more Filipino-American men are said to be dying of AIDS, fewer HIV cases were reported in the country between 1984 and 2000.

The National HIV/AIDS Sentinel Surveillance System said the strength of the Catholic faith in the Philippines and small take-home pay of Filipino men were found to be the reasons why few avail of the services of commercial sex workers.

"The corollary is true, with sex workers having less partners than their counterparts in other countries," read the report. "Most of the sexually transmitted diseases found in Philippine patients are of the non-ulcerative type which are less predisposed to HIV infection."

Dr. Michael Tan, executive director of Health Action Information Network, said AIDS was reported to be the leading cause of death among Filipino-American men between the ages of 20 to 40.

"In California alone, as of March 1998, 700 Filipinos were reported to have AIDS, a number greater than the total reported cases in the Philippines as of that year," Tan told members of the AIDS Society of the Philippines over the weekend.

Tan said the "calm" on HIV and AIDS cases in the country when compared to those in other countries is "deceptive" as people may be lulled into thinking that they are safe from the disease and virus.

"We know that in some countries in Africa like Zimbabwe and Botswana, one of four adults is infected with HIV," he said. "It is a grim scenario that we hope will not happen in the Philippines, but even the less severe scenarios are still cause for concern."

It its annual report, the HIV AIDS Sentinel said 1,441 people were found to be HIV positive from October 1984 to the end of 2,000.

"This showed that the tens of thousands of supposed unknown HIV infection believed to be hidden within the Filipino population many years ago were never really there," read the report. "Otherwise, they would have eventually shown on AIDS cases under treatment in hospitals."

The report said the number of people working in AIDS prevention and control now far outnumbers the people known to be affected with AIDS.

"Experts state that the lower likelihood of becoming infected with HIV is due to cultural traits and practices, and to some extent to specific epidomology of associated sexually transmitted diseases among Filipinos."

Few drug users in the Philippines resort to injectables, "with most preferring to indulge in oral drugs like cannabis, methamphetamine HCI, and pharmaceutical preparations," the report added.

In Angeles City, Dr. Teresita Esguerra, chief of the city social hygiene clinic, said two HIV cases have been confirmed this year, bringing the number of cases to 58 since 1984.

But Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin said: "In our city, I can say that we have gained the upper hand in the fight to control HIV and AIDS since the local campaign started in 1984. This year we only have two cases."