10 kids found with HIV in Jan to Nov 2025

CEBU, Philippines —  Ten children below the age of 15 have tested positive for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) from January 2025 to November 2025, the Cebu Provincial Health Office revealed yesterday, June 2.

Wilfredo Salgado Jr., Health Education and Promotions officer of the Provincial Health Office, said during the Openline News Forum that most of the recorded cases in the province belong to the 15 to 24 years old age group.

According to Salgado, the entire Cebu --including the tri-cities of Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Lapu-Lapu City-- has 954 diagnosed HIV cases.

Meanwhile, Cebu Province alone has recorded 319 HIV-positive individuals.

Male-to-male sexual contact remains the leading mode of transmission (MOT) comprising 629 cases.

Other MOTs were through male having sex with male and female covering 133 cases and transmission through female to male intercourse with 118 cases.

Transmission through drug injections among men comprised 29 cases while mother-to child-transmission followed with four cases.

Salgado said that they have not specified the MOT of the cases among children due to privacy concerns but the Provincial Health Office is sharpening their tracking measures.

He added that they provide holistic support system to HIV-positive individuals, especially those belonging to the below 15 years old age group, with the supervision of parents and school guidance counselors.

In line with the recent findings, the provincial health officer underscored the importance of education and awareness in strengthening prevention and treatment, especially among the youth.

“Kung wala gud tay health literacy, advocacy and information dissemination sa atong mga kabatan-onan, dili sila ma-aware unsa diay ‘nang sakita,” said Salgado.

According to Salgado, primary health facilities and rural health facilities in the city offer HIV screening and confirmed reactive patients are then transferred to treatment hubs for Antiretroviral Therapy and Antiretroviral drugs.

There are currently three treatment hubs across the province, one in the Cebu Provincial Hospital of Bogo City, one in CPH-Balamban, and another in CPH-Carcar.

While stigma remains one of the leading challenges in the fight against HIV, Salgado noted that the severity has lessened through the continual efforts toward awareness led by the new generations.

To curb the spread of HIV, Salgado urged the public to practice safe sex, reintroducing the Department of Health's “ABCDE” prevention scheme.

“A is for abstinence. Be mutually faithful to your partner. Correct and consistent use of condom. Don't use drugs. Education and advocacy,” he said.

Meanwhile, Cebu Pride Movement (CPM) co-founder Ramon Matthew Basabe stressed that lower recorded cases can also be an indication of low awareness.

To push for more testing and to boost awareness, Basabe said their organization has driven “awareness through different pillars.”

He noted that CPM is constantly coordinating with local government units to further amplify their advocacy efforts and produce long-term impact.

Basabe said that more people must become aware that there are enough testing facilities and preventive measures available.

“HIV is not a death sentence. Once you have, there are a lot of treatments to turn it undetectable or untransmittable,” he said. — Jona Mariel Apurado, CNU intern/BRP (FREEMAN)