A TOTAL of 125 people have died from the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Aids) in Davao City from 1984 to July 2018.
The actual number could be higher because not all patients reported their condition, said Reproductive Health and Wellness Center (RHWC) head doctor Jordana Ramiterre.
"Hindi lahat nare-record, nare-report especially when they die sa bahay (Not all were recorded especially when the person died at the house)," Ramiterre said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at The Annex of SM City Davao on Monday, November 5.
Alliance Against Aids (Alagad) executive director Alma Mondragon said the number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Aids cases remains small because others were not recorded.
Aids is caused by HIV, which can be passed from one person to another through unprotected sex, intercourse through vaginal and anal with an infected partner, infected blood components through contaminated blood transfusion, and contaminated injection and tattooing.
The virus could also be transmitted by an infected mother to her child through birth and breastfeeding. A person living with HIV does not necessarily develop Aids.
Between 1984 and July 2018, there were 2,525 people who were diagnosed with HIV-Aids. Of the number, 95 percent was male and five percent, female.
Almost half of the patients, or 1,181, were from the age group of 25 to 34 years followed by the 15-25 group (1,004), 35-49 (287), 46-50 (46).
An estimated 90 percent of HIV cases were contracted through sexual transmission, mostly males having sex with males.
HIV attacks the immune system, specifically the T-cells that fight off the pathogen. This renders the patient vulnerable to infections.
Aids is the late stage of HIV where the immune system is badly damaged by the virus. The infection has no cure but the symptoms can be managed through Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ATR).
Once taken daily, it has a chance to prolong the life of the infected individual.
Chances of having the infection can be prevented through abstinence, consistent and correct use of condoms, practicing safe using of syringes, Education and Early Detection and being mutually faithful to a partner.