HIV transmission more likely during sex, not blood transfusion —DOH

The leading mode of transmission for the HIV retrovirus is still sexual intercourse and not blood transfusion, Dr. Eric Tayag, spokesperson of the Department of Health (DOH), said on Wednesday.

Tayag made the statement on GMA News TV's News To Go to squash any links between rising HIV infection in the country with the 550 blood bags found tainted with HIV in December.

"Gusto lang namin linawin na ang most common mode of transmission sa atin ay unsafe sexual transmission," he said. "Nililinaw lang namin 'yan baka lumabas na kaya nagkakaroon ng pagtaas ng HIV recently dito ay dahilan sa contaminated blood transfusion."

Tayag explained that the blood units were most likely donated by individuals who knew of their HIV status but risked donation anyway or by persons who were not aware of their status.

"May mga nagdo-donate po tayong mga kababayan natin na alam nilang may risk na po sila o 'di nila alam na sila ay may risk. O baka alam nilang may risk sa HIV pero pinilit pa rin nila 'yung sarili nilang mag-donate sapagkat gusto nilang tumulong sa ating mga kababayan, umaasa na made-detect naman ito kaya nagdo-donate," he said.

"'Yan po ay hindi dapat ginagawa sapagkat una po, may self-deferral po tayo at dahil po ite-test rin po natin 'yan, hindi rin po matutuloy 'yung blood donation," Tayag continued.

The National Voluntary Blood Services Program (NVBSP) of the DOH has a self-deferral process where donors at risk of HIV and other sicknesses that may contaminate their blood refrain from donating.

In case these individuals push through, the DOH, the Philippine Red Cross, and hospitals test blood units for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, malaria, and other diseases.

"Ang gagawin naman po ng Department of Health at mga umuugnay sa amin katulad ng Philippine Red Cross at maging ang mga ospital, bago isalin 'yan, tine-test muna po 'yan. Kaya lumalabas doon sa aming report nung isang taon, umabot sa 550 mga blood units ang positive at ito ay dini-discard. Ibig sabihin, 'yan hindi na po 'yan mapupunta sa blood supply natin," Tayag stated.

He urged individuals who believe they are at risk of HIV to have themselves checked by doctors.

"Ang ibig po naming mangyari, mga kababayan natin o indibidwal na merong panganib na nahawa sila sa HIV, ay magpapatingin po sila sa doktor at hindi po gagamitin ang mga blood donation drive namin para sila ma-diagnose," Tayag said.

The DOH also reminded the public not to accept payment for blood donations for "replacement" and that all commercial blood banks have been closed to decrease the risk of infection.

"Meron tayong 'replacement'. Ibig sabihin po niyan, 'yung mga kababayan natin na nakakakuha ng dugo na... walang nag-volunteer na mag-donate, sila ay kumukuha ng mga donors para mapalitan ang binigay po ng Department of Health o Philippine Red Cross," Tayag explained.

"Marami pong ginagawa niyan at namo-monitor namin 'yan. 'Yung iba ay tumatanggap ng bayad. 'Yan po ang pumalit sa commercial blood bank. Ang DOH po ay kumukilos na sana hindi na po mangyari ito na voluntary," he added.

Furthermore, the DOH expressed full support and respect for the Department of Education's (DepEd) focus on improving sex education in schools as youths require information on sexuality and the risks they face.

"Naniniwala naman po kami na 'yan po ang pundasyon, lalo na ang abstinence, 'yan ang 100 percent safe sex," Tayag explained. "Yung risk avoidance na sinusulong namin sa paggamit ng condom, sa mga health facilities po namin at kampanya po namin gagawin po 'yan."

"Patuloy pa rin po kami sa paghahanap ng solusyon para sa ganun ay hindi kumalat po ang HIV sa mga kabataan. Sapagkat itong mga kabataan na ito, 15 to 24 (years old), sila po ang kulang sa impormasyon, sila po ang hindi nagpapa-test, at sila po ang maaaring hindi mabigyan ng serbisyo."

Youths are recognized as the group with the largest number of new HIV/AIDS cases reported from January to October 2016, with 10,279 cases from among those aged 15 to 24 and 19,578 cases from those aged 25 to 34. —Rie Takumi/KG, GMA News