HIV cases “fast and furious”

CEBU, Philippines - More or less 498 new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Ab seropositive individuals from around the Philippines were recorded by the Department of Health for the month of March alone, making the increase “fast and furious.”

The numbers indicate a 35-percent increase from the HIV cases recorded on March 2013, which had 370 cases. Furthermore, eighty-four individuals who are HIV Ab seropositive this year come from the Central Visayas.

Cebu City Health Office Dr. Ma. Chona Loma described the increase of HIV cases from 1987 to 2004 as ‘low and slow,’ from 2005 to 2009 as ‘hidden and growing,’ and 2010 up to present as ‘fast and furious’.

DOH-7 HIV/AIDS Nurse Coordinator Boel Espinas said most of the tallied new cases were still asymptomatic cases. Among the new cases, 445 are classified as asymptomatic cases and 53 are AIDS cases. “Asymptomatic cases meaning wala pa’y signs and symptoms, but HIV positives na sila,” he said.

Loma said that most of the individuals found to be seropositive belong to the 15 to 79 age bracket, with 98 percent identified as male. Furthermore, she said that the common modes of transmission include sexual contact, male-male sex, needle sharing among injecting drug users, and from mother to child.

On the other hand, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center’s Dr. Abelardo Alera said that the increase is due to people submitting themselves for HIV testing. This is brought about by the increase in awareness among the community. However, Alera said that the preventive measure the government is taking is not enough to decrease the cases of HIV/AIDS. “We need more support from the LGU, in terms of advocacy and awareness.”

Meanwhile, Cebu Plus Executive Director Jerson See said his organization is continually doing its efforts to reduce discrimination of the HIV/AIDS victims. “Discrimination is still an issue,” he said, adding that poepel with HIV/AIDS deserve the same kind of respect that any other people get.

He further added that anyone can be vulnerable to HIV, emphasizing the occurrence of someone engaging in unsafe sex. It is therefore advisable that everyone should undergo HIV testing. (FREEMAN)