Tuesday, August 05, 2008 Health department: HIV cases up by 14% By Cong Corrales
THIS year saw a marked increase of 14 percent in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive cases.
There were 32 new cases reported this year, but only two were classified as acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases, data from the National Epidemiology Center (NEC) of the Department of Health (DOH) show.
Of the 32 new cases, 28 percent or nine were overseas Filipino workers (OFW). All infections were reportedly through sexual contact.
Out of the nine OFWs, eight were males with ages ranging from 29 to 47 years old.
Two of the victims got infected through heterosexual contact, four cases were through homosexual contact, and three got infected through bisexual contacts.
In Cagayan de Oro, the City Health Office (CHO) has registered six HIV positive active cases.
All six victims have been availing of the care and support services of the Alliance Against AIDS in Mindanao Inc. (Alagad-Mindanao), an alliance of reproductive health advocates on sexually transmitted infections (STI), HIV and AIDS prevention in Mindanao.
"Through early intervention with proper education in schools, communities and even hospitals can we diminish and successfully prevent HIV and AIDS infections," said Honey Mabaylan, Advocacy Officer of Alagad-Mindanao in a phone interview.
Mabaylan added that the six HIV positive patients registered with CHO are not in their custody, and that they are living in their own homes.
"Through their care and support services the patients have been taking anti-retroviral drugs, to slow down the spread of the virus. Some are working and living out their normal lives," she said.
Under the AIDS Law (RA 8504), people living with HIV should never engage in risky sexual behavior or else they will face penalty.
With 21 years of experience under their belt, Alagad-Mindanao has launched intervention and prevention programs.
Renante Namocatcat, project staff of the advocacy network of ALAGAD-Mindanao said they have grouped the cases into people in prostitution, migrant workers (OFW) and men having sex with men (MSM). His area of concentration is in the MSM group.
He added that they have widened their coverage on their one-on-one education among the said groupings, which he referred to as the most addressed population as well as the high risk groups.
"We have peer educators going to the actual workplaces of the high risk groups for an on-the-spot consultations and distribution of free condoms," said Namocatcat.
They also have Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) sessions where they hold their patients' risk assessment because, according to Namocatcat, these were window periods where they could to look into their sexual behaviors within the week.
They will then refer their patients to the CHO for anti-bodies testing.
