RP has one of lowest HIV prevalence rates

The Philippines has one of the lowest human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence rates among countries in Southeast Asia, a United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) report shows.

According to the report, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand have the highest HIV prevalence percentage rates in the region.

Cambodia has a 2.36 percent prevalence rate of HIV among its male population and 3.51 percent among women. Following close behind is Thailand with 1.18 and 2.32 percent, respectively, and Myanmar with 1.04 and 1.72 percent, respectively.

The Philippines, for its part, has a low 0.03 percent HIV prevalence rate among men and 0.06 percent among women.

Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit welcomed the UN statistics, saying this means that the government’s AIDS awareness program and safe sex campaign have been successful.

Dayrit, however, said the DOH will still continue its AIDS awareness program to ensure that there will be no increase in HIV or AIDS cases in the country. — Rainier Ronda