Bilibid isolates 5 HIV-positive inmates

MANILA, Philippines - Five inmates of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) who tested positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been isolated, Bureau of Corrections Director Franklin Bucayu said yesterday.

He said the Department of Health has been informed and is doing something to attend to the patients.

According to Bucayu, the inmates were afflicted with the virus even before they were transferred to the state penitentiary in Muntinlupa.

Last August, the DOH announced that the Philippines is one of eight countries with the most number of HIV cases.

Assistant Health Secretary Eric Tayag earlier said the number of HIV cases reported daily shot up to 16 cases this year from only 12 cases in 2013. He said most of the cases were transmitted by men having sex with men.

The government has reportedly allocated P308 million to treat HIV patients in 2015 and P11 million of this figure was set aside to purchase condoms.