SOME 2,000 people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are getting free anti-retroviral therapy (ART) from the government, a health officer said.
“We have been treating those with HIV for quite a while now,” Department of Health (DOH) in Davao Region HIV-Aids (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) program manager Maria Teresa Requillo said in an interview with SunStar Davao.
HIV attacks the body’s immune system. If left untreated, HIV can lead to the disease called Aids.
The data from the DOH showed that 2,000 patients have been undergoing ART in three treatment hubs in Davao City since 2015.
“The Southern Philippines Medical Center and Davao Regional Medical Center in Bajada and the Reproductive Health and Wellness Center City Office in Jacinto are the hubs in Davao,” she said.
Requillo noted that the number of those who are accessing free anti-retroviral drugs include both adult and pediatric patients. In January 2017 alone, a total of 526 people with HIV started taking the treatment.
“Of the said data, 50 belong to Davao City. Meron tayong isang patient who has been taking the treatment for 20 years now,” she said.
Requillo added that those who underwent ART but have stopped treatment for various reasons were excluded from the list of beneficiaries.
Since January 1984 to January 2017, a total of 40,466 HIV cases have been reported in the country, with 2,002 deaths and 3,755 cases progressing into Aids.
“This is prevalent among the heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual men but we also have mother-to-child transmission, meaning napapasa ng pregnant mothers sa baby nila ang HIV (pregnant mothers pass HIV to the their child),” she said.
Requillo said about three perinatal cases or mother-to-child transmissions have been recorded since January 2017.