By Brian Campued
Cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the country is estimated to reach 215,400 by the end of 2024, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
The DOH, in collaboration with the Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC), launched the “Undetectable = Untransmittable Campaign” to intensify its information drive against stigma about human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
The campaign was launched as the country marks the 2024 Philippine World AIDS Day on Sunday, raising awareness about prevention, testing, and treatment of HIV/AIDS.
Aside from practicing safe sex, the DOH and PNAC strongly advocate for the use of oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce risk of contracting HIV.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa stressed the importance of early detection, urging the public to undergo regular testing in primary care facilities, local clinics, health centers, and mobile testing units.
“It is only through collective action that we will be able to end the HIV epidemic in the country. We must all work together to ensure that those who need it most—especially our PLHIVs (People Living with HIV) and other key populations—are able to access our HIV services without difficulty or stigma, dahil sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Buhay Mahalaga,” the DOH chief said.
PNAC Executive Director Dr. Joselito Feliciano, likewise, called on the government and the public to commit to a “whole-of-society and whole-of-government” approach in its HIV response.
“We should strive to work through multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary processes, exploring innovative strategies and interventions that would be most impactful in addressing our country’s HIV challenges,” Feliciano said.
As of September, the DOH has recorded 131,335 cases of HIV nationwide.
“We have 50 new cases of HIV everyday (as of Q3 of 2024). We want the whole of society to help with this rising tide of HIV cases in our youth,” Herbosa said during his speech at the Philippine AIDS Walk in Pasig City.
Citing the AIDS Epidemic Model’s estimates, the agency bared that the number of HIV cases in the country could reach 448,000 by 2030 “if prevention and interventions won’t scale up.”
“This is a disease that we can detect and we can help people living with HIV have a normal life. No one should die of AIDS,” the Health chief said.
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