2 persons HIV positive in Vizcaya

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – Two persons, a male and a female, were confirmed to be positively carrying the human immuno­deficiency virus (HIV) in the province, health officials here disclosed yesterday.

Another female is likewise suspected to be HIV-positive after testing positive of the virus during recent random tests for blood donors, it was also revealed during yesterday’s health forum in Solano town. 

The forum was organized by the Veterans Regional Hospital here, a joint national-local government subsidized health facility led by Dr. Cirilo Galindez in order to have a more coordinated management of health services in this landlocked province. Also invited in the said forum were heads of the local government unit-managed health facilities, both on the provincial and municipal levels.

The two HIV-positive persons are now confidentially undergoing treatment at a certain health facility but are otherwise leading a normal life here. Health officials, however, refused to reveal further details about the persons, saying this was intruding into their private lives. 

HIV is said to be the virus that leads to full-blown Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) for which there is as yet no known cure. 

Health personnel denied that the woman was working as a commercial sex worker, but added that those who were frequent patrons of such establishments were doing such things “at their own risk.”

Dr. Antonio Parong, Department of Health provincial representative, said, “Anybody who patronizes such establishments are doing so at their own risk.” 

Further, health officials here also said there has been a general decline in the number of other recorded sexually transmitted diseases in the province.

“As of last reporting, there have been 20 cases of STD reported throughout the province, which is a big reduction from the previous,” another health official said. 

Sexually transmitted diseases include syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes and others.