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Thursday, December 08, 2005
NegOr, city no record of Aids-caused deaths
By Victor L. Camion
CONTRARY to rumors, Negros Oriental and Dumaguete City have no confirmed cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the dreaded Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Aids).
Health experts, provincial, and city government officials made this assurance during the observance of World Aids Day at Quezon Park in Dumaguete City.
The theme of this year's observance is "Stop Aids, Keep the Promise."
Provincial planning officer Joy Gongob said there are no recorded cases of HIV and Aids in Negros Oriental.
Past reported deaths of alleged persons with Aids in Dumaguete City could not be confirmed, said Dr. Fe-Sycip Wale of the Silliman University Marina Clinic and Ting Foundation Inc.
An Italian national who had been living in Dumaguete City with a Filipina wife was sent off to Manila where he died of Aids in the early 90's.
However, it was not known if health authorities contacted the Filipina wife and other women whom the Italian had admitted having sexual contacts before his case worsened.
The latest unconfirmed report was a seaman from Negros Oriental who reportedly died in Cebu City this year. His wife had allegedly showed signs of Aids.
Nevertheless, Dumaguete City administrator Dominador Dumalag Jr. said having a single sex partner is the proper way to avoid HIV infection.
Dumalag said the use of condom during a sex play might not be safe considering the prevalence of the infection in countries where it is widely used.
Instead, he advised young Dumagueteños to avoid pre-marital sex as he cited records that partners in early sexual relationship were vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases including HIV.
Meantime, city health consultant Dr. Erlinda Cabrera disclosed that commercial sex workers in Dumaguete have stopped reporting to their hygiene clinic for regular check-up for fear that they would be identified.
Wale revealed plans to build another hygiene clinic away from Dumaguete City to meet the needs of the province's over 100 estimated prostitutes.
Earlier, Governor George Arnaiz said he was willing to build a clinic for sex workers at the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital compound.
But Dumaguete City Vice Mayor Ablong opposed the move.
Ablong believed setting up the clinic would only acknowledge and encourage more women to prostitution.
The World Health Organization in its November 21, 2005 fact sheet said this year some 8.3 million people were living with HIV in Asia including 1.1 million people who became newly infected in the past year.
The fact sheet said Aids has claimed some 520,000 lives.
(December 8, 2005 issue)
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