THE Department of Health (DOH) is proposing the declaration of national public health emergency due to the significant increase in the number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases across the country.
In a statement, DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said the number of HIV cases in the country has increased by 500 percent, with 57 confirmed cases each day from January to March 2025.
The country currently has a total of 148,831 active HIV cases.
He said HIV is a bigger problem than mpox (Monkeypox), with the Philippines having the most new HIV cases in the Western Pacific Region.
(We have a 500 percent increase in HIV cases among those aged 15 to 25. In fact, the youngest diagnosed case is a 12-year-old child from the province of Palawan.)
“So ang malaking problema po natin ay hindi monkeypox kundi ang paglaganap ng HIV…Ang nakakatakot lang napakadaming new cases po sa ating mga kabataan,” he added.
(So our bigger problem isn’t monkeypox, but the rapid spread of HIV… What’s alarming is that there are so many new cases among our youth.)
Herbosa said if the country will not be able to prevent the further spread of the virus, the number of HIV cases may surpass the 400,000 mark.
He raised the need to increase HIV testing and boost prevention efforts.
The agency reminded of the HIV preventive measures, such as taking HIV test, which is free and confidential; practicing the Combination Prevention Method, including the use of condom, lubricant and pre-exposure prophylaxis medicine, which reduces risk of HIV infection; and undergoing consultation and take antiretroviral therapy for those who need it.
“Kaya maganda na magkaroon tayo ng national public health emergency for HIV dahil magtutulong-tulong ang buong lipunan, whole of society and whole of government can help us in this campaign na mapababa ang new cases of HIV,” Herbosa said.
(That’s why it would be good to declare a national public health emergency for HIV, so that the entire society and all levels of government can work together in this campaign to reduce new HIV cases.) (TPM/SunStar Philippines)