Pregnant woman dies of AIDS

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines – A pregnant woman from General Santos City has died of AIDS-related illnesses, a public health officer said yesterday.

Mely Lastimoso, chief of General Santos City’s epidemiology and disease surveillance unit, said the woman died of “opportunistic infections” while undergoing treatment in a hospital in Davao City.

Documents obtained by The STAR showed the woman was the 18th AIDS fatality in the country since March.

Lastimoso said the victim’s husband was also diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

She said at least four of the 100 people who availed themselves of free HIV screening in General Santos City tested positive for the virus.

Free HIV screening was held in various parts of the country on Tuesday in observance of World AIDS Day.

21 percent increase

In Baguio City, a health official said the number of HIV patients increased by 21 percent since 2013.

Six to seven cases were added each year, Celia Flor Brillantes, social hygiene clinic head, said.

Brillantes said the new cases involve men who have sex with men.

She said health personnel have been tapped to talk to the patients to prevent the spread of the disease.

”HIV patients tend to be more open and comfortable when talking to someone who is almost their age,” she said.

Brillantes said 12 persons – including a mother and her child – among the 5,000 who availed themselves of free HIV screening in Baguio City tested positive.

“Be faithful to your partners...have responsible sex. If you can’t abstain and be faithful to your partners, just use a condom,” Brillantes urged the public. – With Artemio Dumlao