AIDS kills 2 in Iloilo

CEBU, Philippines - Two persons in Iloilo died this month due to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

This was confirmed by Ma. Socorro Quiñon, assistant chief of the Iloilo Provincial Health Office, who however refused to mention the gender of the two victims and the town where they were residing.

Charity Perea, coordinator of the Department of Health-Center for Health Development in Region 6 said she did not yet receive the Iloilo PHO report yet, but her office is always updating its record every 15 days.

Perea said her office recorded, as of June this year, six deaths in addition to 46 deaths last year for a total of 51, with the recent two this month yet to be added.

Most of the deaths were overseas Filipino workers who were infected by the disease due to unprotected sex with multiple partners, said Perea.

Since its campaign started in 1994 up to October 2013, the DOH-6 was able to encourage 332 persons living with human immunodeficiency syndrome or PLHIVs to seek help and avail themselves of free medicines from the government to help them reduce illnesses, prolong their lives and improve their quality of life.

Perea said the available drugs are given free for as long as the beneficiaries submit themselves for medication and counseling in two treatment hubs: The Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City and the Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao district of Iloilo City.

She added that 13 new cases are now under DOH monitoring, and of the 332 PLHIVs, 90 are OFWs while 242 of them are infected locally.

To avoid being infected by HIV, Perea reiterated the public to practice “ABCDE,” an acronym which stands for absenteeism, be faithful, correct or consistent condom use, don’t use drugs and early detection or treatment. (FREEMAN)