Contact tracing scheme for HIV/AIDS proposed

MANILA, Philippines - Health Secretary Enrique Ona yesterday proposed the inclusion of contact tracing in the programs against HIV/AIDS to curb the rising cases of the deadly disease in the country. 

Ona clarified that the scheme is not intended to discriminate against HIV-infected individuals. The Department of Health (DOH) just wants the contacts to be notified that they could be at risk and should undergo testing. The agency will protect the privacy of patients.

Ona said the DOH has proposed to Congress to “liberalize” its capacity to identify the contacts of those infected, so they could also observe health measures.

“Just like in other viral diseases like MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus), contact tracing is very important because HIV is also a viral disease,” he said.

The DOH is concerned over the soaring cases of HIV/AIDS in the Philippines primarily due to men who have sex with men and injecting drug users who share contaminated needles.

Data show that 498 new HIV cases, including 53 AIDS, were recorded last March, the highest ever on a monthly basis. This brought to 1,432 the total number of cases since 1984.

According to Ona, Republic Act 8504 or the Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998 was patterned after the US law on HIV/AIDS, but the US law had been modified and now includes contact tracing.

“We have to balance. Discrimination is never in the programs of DOH. What is important is for us to be open to HIV testing... It’s scary, cases continue to go up,” he added.