GENERAL SANTOS CITY–Health officials in South Cotabato province have raised the alarm over the rising number of local teenagers who have been infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), some of whom are even in the late stages of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
A total of eight high school students in the province have tested positive for the deadly disease this year alone, based on the screening and confirmatory tests facilitated by the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO).
John Codilla, IPHO’s HIV/AIDS program coordinator, said Tuesday these cases were among the 40 new infections that were detected in the province’s 10 towns and lone city since January.
“Victims are getting younger and younger and there are indications that the infection could have happened very early,” Codilla said.
He cited the latest case involving a 17-year-old out-of-school youth who was already in stage four of AIDS when the victim was tested. At such stage of infection, Codilla said the victim could have been infected with HIV as early as nine years old.
IPHO records show that the eight students who turned out to be HIV positive were all males aged 15 to 19, and mostly enrolled in public and private senior high schools.
The victims were mainly infected through “casual sex”, some with multiple partners, Codilla said, adding that all eight are undergoing free counseling and antiretroviral drug treatment at the HACT treatment hub.
Because of the alarming rate of infection, Codilla said they have shifted the focus of their awareness campaign and free testing services to local high schools.
Citing their assessment, he said students are now very much vulnerable with exposure to risky sexual behaviors due to increased access to the Internet.
He specifically cited the proliferation of pornographic materials, chat groups, and dating sites that could trigger the curiosity of teenagers to engage in casual sex.
Codilla said they have already trained the school nurses to conduct orientations on the students, especially on HIV testing, he said.
“This way, the students are already prepared by the time we visit the schools,” he said.
So far, Codilla said the awareness and response from parents about the program have been positive.
Data from the IPHO showed that a total of 262 HIV/AIDS cases were detected in the province in 2017.
Some 133 cases involved persons aged 25 to 34 years old; 81 under the 15 to 24 years age bracket; 36 under the 35 to 49 years age group; and four aged 50 years and above.
A total of 155 cases were males having sex with males or MSMs, 72 were bisexual, and 26 were heterosexual. (Anna liza Cabrido/PNA)
