As HIV cases rise, DOH asks public: ‘Don't wait for symptoms, get tested now’

About 900 new cases of HIV have been recorded in the month of February alone, GMA News' Unang Balita reported on Tuesday.

Health Asec. Lyndon Lee Suy in an interview with the program assured the public that the Department of Health is attending to the problem with a rigorous information campaign, with the goal of eradicated the stigma from getting tested.

Suy said that they are focused on educating people about risky sexual behavior that might or will expose them to the virus.  "We're looking into behavior pa rin e. 'Yon 'yong medyo nahihirapan tayo, Suy said.

The World Health Organization lists the following as risk factors for contracting HIV:

• having unprotected anal or vaginal sex;
• having another sexually transmitted infection such as syphilis, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and bacterial vaginosis;
• sharing contaminated needles, syringes and other injecting equipment and drug solutions when injecting drugs;
• receiving unsafe injections, blood transfusions, tissue transplantation, medical procedures that involve unsterile cutting or piercing; and
• experiencing accidental needle stick injuries, including among health workers.

Suy added that less time spent with their family and pressure from peers might expose the younger population to risky sexual behavior that may lead to more cases of HIV.

"Sa trabaho din, lalo na ngayon ang trend natin nakikita natin na ang young professionals ang nagkakaroon ng HIV," Suy continued.

The HIV cases being documented are happening to individuals as young as 15 years old, but the majority of the cases are still from the 22 to 30 or 35 years old age range.

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Through information campaigns, the DOH hopes to lessen the apprehension about getting tested — likely rooted in social stigma.

"Ito ang gusto nating mangyari...ang positobong epekto nito ay ang mga tao ay hindi na natatakot lumabas para magpa-eksamen," Suy said.

Instead of waiting for signs and symptoms, the DOH and the WHO encourage people who are at risk of infection to get tested immediately.

"Wala kang kailangang maramdaman, kailangan alam mo sa sarili mo na at risk ka. Maaaring nag-engage ka sa isang bagay na maaaring ma-expose ka sa pagkakaroon ng HIV," Suy said.  "Walang ibang makakaalam n'on kundi ang sarilo mo." 

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According to the WHO, "people living with HIV tend to be most infectious in the first few months, many are unaware of their status until later stages."

Suy said that the DOH is equipped to handle the situation, with many public health facilities across the country offering free, discreet testing.

"As far as services are concerned, meron tayo. Libre ang mga gamot na binibigay natin sa mga kapatid natin na nagkaroon ng HIV/AIDS," Suy said, adding that counseling, laboratory tests are also free." — Aya Tantiangco/LA, GMA News