By Perla Lena (PNA)
ILOILO CITY – One person is diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) every 13 hours in Western Visayas, according to the Department of Health-Center for Health Development in Region 6 (DOH-CHD6).
CHD 6 Nurse V Caroline Tumabotabo, in a press conference on Monday, said that from 1986 until August 2018, the region has had a total of 2,741 recorded cases; 2,263 were asymptomatic and 478 advanced or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases.
From January to August 2018 alone, the region had 478 new cases; 374 were asymptomatic and 104 AIDS cases. For the month of August alone, the region has recorded 58 new cases.
“In August 2018, every 13 hours, a person was diagnosed with HIV in Western Visayas,” Tumabotabo said.
During the monitoring period, DOH-Region 6 recorded a total of 278 cumulative deaths with the top three recorded in Iloilo City — 20 deaths; Iloilo province — 13; and Bacolod City — 11 deaths.
The increasing number of cases was attributed to “better case finding and better reporting”. In previous years, deaths and cases were under-reported.
Currently, five HIV treatment hubs are already available in Western Visayas. These are the Western Visayas Medical Center and The Medical City both in Mandurriao district for Iloilo; Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital in Aklan, Angel Salazar Memorial Hospital in Antique, and the Corazon Locsin Memorial Hospital in Negros Occidental.
Meanwhile, the DOH and its partners have lined up various activities in line with the December 1 World AIDS Day celebration.
The activity that anchors on the theme “Know Your Status” includes the 2018 Search for HIV/AIDS Advocacy Ambassadors; campus tour, amazing race and the launching of the LHIVE Free.
The Search for HIV/AIDS Ambassador is an annual search of the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP) to promote awareness among the LGBT community and the general population and create a pool of ambassadors to bring HIV testing services to their target sector.
The campus tour, on the other hand, will be highlighted by the launching of an area or spaces in schools where students can have access to commodities that could help prevent the spread of the sexually transmitted infection to the young key population (YKP).
The launching of the #LHIVE FREE branding promotes testing among the target population and creates an empowering environment for persons living with HIV.
