The Davao Region is among the top four regions in the country with the most number of HIV/AIDS cases in the Philippines for February 2023 alone.
According to the HIV/AIDS & ART Registry of the Philippines data released by the national Department of Health (DOH), Davao Region logs 84 cases of HIV/AIDS.
This is equivalent to seven percent of the total nationwide figure which is 1,292 cases.
“Three hundred thirty-seven (337) or 26 percent of the individuals reported in February had an advanced HIV infection at the time of the diagnosis. There were 44 deaths that were newly reported this year,” said DOH in their report.
The National Capital Region (NCR) tops the list with 294 cases equivalent to 23 percent of the total figure.
It is followed by Region 4A CALABARZON with 253 cases, Region 3 Central Luzon with 133 cases while Region 7 Central Visayas is fifth with 80 cases.
DOH also reports that of the total population with confirmed HIV/AIDS positive, 1,236 are male and 56 are female. At the same time, 373 cases or 29 percent of the 1,292 population are youths aged 15 to 24 years old.
The top mode of transmission is sexual contact, mostly male-to-male sex followed by sex with both males and female, and male-to-female sex.
HIV/AIDS or human immunodeficiency virus - acquired immunodeficiency syndrome attacks a person’s immune system and that if untreated, can lead to death. There is currently no effective cure but it can be controlled with proper medical care.
It can be transmitted through sexual contact, exchange of bodily fluids including blood, and in some cases, mother-to-child infection.