TWENTY-SEVEN new cases of Human Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (HIV) in Negros Occidental have been reported from January to March this year.
This was confirmed by Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, Thursday.
From 2012 to 2015, Negros Occidental recorded 207 cases of HIV positive patients, and 44 of them are being treated at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City.
In the whole Western Visayas, 397 HIV cases were recorded, according to Dr. Marlyn Convocar, regional director of Department of Health Region 6.
Health officials revealed the data in yesterday's Universal Health Care (UHC) High Impact Five (HI5) Summit at the Nature's Hotel and Restaurant in Talisay City.
Convocar said they have chosen Negros Occidental to host the event because it is one of the 43 provinces having the high poverty magnitude along with Iloilo for Region 6.
She said the special breakthrough services under the UHC HI5 implementation is the reduction of maternal, infant, and under five mortality; reducing the burden of HIV/Aids; and establishing Service Delivery networks.
UHC HI5 will intensify regional operations and converge in priority program areas.
Convocar added that in Negros Occidental in 2014, 55 maternal mortality has been recorded and that they aim to reduce it to 24, or by 57 percent.
From January to June this year, only 11 maternal mortality cases were recorded in the province and the DOH is confident to reach the reduction target.