HIV cases up by 418% in 12 years —DOH

Cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the Philippines have increased to an average of 418% every year from 2010 to 2022, where almost half of the new infections are in the age group of 15 to 24 years old. 

According to Dano Tingcungco's report on "24 Oras," the group TLF Share Collective, citing Department of Health data, said from January 1984 to June 2023, a total of 117,946 HIV infections were recorded in the country. 

“Our reality is that HIV prevention progress for the Asia Pacific has virtually stalled," said Eamonn Murphy, UNAIDS Regional Director in Asia and the Pacific, Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regions. 

"Since 2010 there has been just a 14 percent reduction for the region as a whole. In places with rising epidemics as you can see in the red, we need an urgent focus on concrete, population-specific interventions led by communities themselves,” Murphy added.

To encourage people to undergo HIV testing, the Love Yourself group launched the #WhatWorksForYou campaign led by Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach and Catriona Gray.

“Meron nang medication kung saan ‘yung viral load mo napakababa na halos hindi na talaga siya made-detect at hindi mo na siya mapapasa na para ka nang normal healthy person as long as continuous ka lang sa medication mo,” said Wurtzbach. 

(There is a medication where your viral load is so low that it is almost undetectable and you will no longer be able to pass it and you will be like a normal healthy person as long as you continuously take your medicine.) 

“It also affects other communities and other individuals too so we don't want to push the messaging that it's really just affecting these people, it can affect all of us,” said Gray. 

In celebration of World AIDS Day, the Quezon City government has launched a free HIV screening site in the Quezon City Hall. 

The testing site is only free until December 8, but the city also offers free HIV testing in various clinics.

Health experts said they would continue to promote activities to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, especially since cases are increasing, especially among young people.

“It is quite alarming because it has already penetrated the 15-year-old bracket and we don’t want that to expand more and reach the younger ones,” said Dr. Dave Vergara, Chief Health Care Operations Officer. 

The main way of spreading the disease is sexual transmission which has become easier now because of dating applications or dating sites, but another reason is the lack of knowledge.

“Only 31% ng mga kabataan natin edad 15 to 17 years old ang nakakaalam kung ano ba ang HIV at kung papano ito mapre-prevent,” said UNAIDS Country Director Dr. Louie Ocampo. 

(Only 31% of our youth aged 15 to 17 years old know what HIV is and how it can be prevented.) 

To provide information to young people about HIV, the Quezon City local government will issue a manual to be distributed to high schools run by the city.

In the manual, it said a law allows 15 to 18-year-olds to take an HIV test even without parental consent.

“Wala namang masamang magpa-test. Mas maganda po magpa-test nang mas maaga para sa ngayon ay masolusyonan natin agad ang kanilang infection,” said Vergara. 

(There is nothing wrong with taking a test. It is better to get tested earlier so that we can cure the infection at once.)—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News