DOH leads candlelight memorial for HIV, AIDS victims

Published May 15, 2015 6:23pm

The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday led a candlelight memorial to commemorate those who died with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) at the Liwasang Aurora, Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City.

In a statement, the DOH, together with the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP), led the observance of the 32nd International AIDS Candlelight Memorial.

It noted that since 1984, there were a total of 1,149 deaths recorded in the AIDS registry.

Meanwhile, as of February 2015, there are a total of 23,709 diagnosed cases of HIV in the Philippines, the statement said.

It added that the victims are more younger in 2015.

"The age group with the biggest proportion of cases has become younger from 30-39 years in 2000 to 2004, down to 25-29 years between the years of 2005 to 2009 and has gone lower at 20-24 years from 2010 to 2015," the statement said.

"The Government joins the rest of the world in this commemoration and calls for a commitment towards a sustainable AIDS response in the future by ensuring funds for Universal Health Care that mainstreams HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, by upholding the human rights and dignity of all individuals and by fully and meaningfully engaging people living with HIV in every step of the process," it added.

The statement said the memorial was organized by the Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC) together with Pinoy Plus Association, the Pioneer Organization of People Living with the HIV and AIDS in the Philippines.

The event is part of the National HIV Testing Week, observed from May 11 to 15, when the public is encouraged to undergo a free confidential HIV testing in Social Hygiene Clinics, the statement said. Those who want to undergo the free testing may contact the 24/7 landline numbers: (02) 2563472, 0915-198.6978, 0922- 6350270, 0936-1838963 and 0919-638.5401. — Amanda Fernandez/RSJ, GMA News

Tags: hivaids