DOH: More than 1 Pinoy diagnosed with HIV every hour

The Department of Health on Thursday expressed concern over the rising number of people diagnosed with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) in the country as another 950 cases were recorded in May.

According to a report on Balitanghali by Ian Cruz, the figure recorded in a single month meant that, on average, more than one person in the country are diagnosed every hour.

Data from the DOH said a total of 4,680 cases have been reported in the period from January to May 2018.

Moreover, at least 55,282 Filipinos have been diagnosed with HIV from January 1984 to May 2018.

Thirty of the 2,628 deaths reported during this period were reported in May 2018 alone.

Most cases recorded in May were in the National Capital Region (30 percent), while 17 percent and 10 percent were recorded in Region 4A (Calabarzon) and Region 7 (Central Visayas), respectively.

Of the 950 cases, five hundred thirty-two or 56 percent were males having sex with males only.

The DOH is also concerned that the bulk of this year's HIV cases were young people aged between 15 and 34 years old.

The agency's Epidemiology Bureau advised parents to keep an eye on their children, especially as most of them are exposure to the internet and social media.

"Parents should not be afraid na i-discuss in an unbiased, unmalicious manner the consequences of a particular act if their children will indulge in such," said DOH Epidemiology Bureau officer-in-charge Dr. Ferchito Avelina in the report.

Love Yourself

Half of the HIV cases in the NCR were diagnosed at the Love Yourself Center, where HIV tests and consultations are offered for free.

The center's project and data manager Danvic Rosadiño warned the public against unprotected sex which, he said, can even lead to getting the infection from one's partner.

"Kulang sa self worth na 'yung pagpapahalaga sa sarili nila'y kulang," Rosadiño explained. "So ang tendency nila is magtiwala du'n sa taong katalik nila na tipong 'yung pagtitiwala na 'yon ay naglalagay 'dun sa sarili nila sa peligro."

The Love Yourself Center is also conducting a study on the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis which, if ingested daily, is said to be 99-percent effective in protecting a person from HIV infection.

"Tinitignan po natin hetong mga factors na nagi-interplay doon and base dito sa pilot testing, then we can inform the public kung talagang ang Pilipino is ready for prep," Rosadiño said.

In the report, sexually active persons were urged to get tested for HIV at least once every three months. — Margaret Claire Layug/BM, GMA News