Thursday, July 26, 2007 DOH alarmed over rising HIV-Aids cases By Carlo P. Mallo
THE Department of Health (DOH)-Southern Mindanao expressed alarm over the rising cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV-Aids) in the country.
Cases from 2005 to 2007 have already reached more than half of the cases recorded from 1994 to 2004.
DOH Regional Director Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial said the prevalence rate of Aids today is at 0.3 percent compared to last year's 0.1 percent.
However, Ubial asserted that it is not that there are more people afflicted with Aids but that more people are already getting tested for the lifelong disease.
"People are now more aware of the importance of having themselves tested," the health director said.
Dr. Maria Elena Borromeo, United Nations Aids country coordinator, said in the cases of returning overseas Filipino workers, an average one out of three is tested positive for the disease.
"It is not that they are most active, but instead it is them who are subjected to mandatory testing," Borromeo added.
Borromeo also asserted that it is the opportune time to put an end to the deadly disease that continues to wreak havoc on individuals.
"While the epidemic is still low and slow, it is the best time to resolve it before it becomes full blown," Borromeo said.
The DOH-Southern Mindanao is making available to the public the anti-retroviral drugs that would help prevent the symptoms of the disease from making the person vulnerable.
