EV HIV cases up 150%
Public Health

EV HIV cases up 150%

Nov 7, 2022, 5:18 AM
Joyce Kahano-Alpino

Joyce Kahano-Alpino

Writer

After the alarming COVID cases in the past two years, the Department of Health (DOH) in Eastern Visayas again reports spiking cases of human immunodeficiency virus /acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in the region.

Its recent surveillance data shows 20 new confirmed cases in August 2022, accounting for a total of 1,536 cases since the first recorded case in 1984.

HIV attacks the immune system and if untreated destroys it completely leading to death, 95 of which is now recorded as HIV deaths in the region. with three of them in August alone.

“This increase is 150 percent higher compared to the cases noted in July 2022 and 60 percent higher than the cases of the same time period of the previous year,” the agency said.

More facilities

With the continuous trend, the DoH-EV disclosed that all 11 HIV treatment hubs in six provinces and one primary HIV care clinic located in Ormoc City are currently experiencing a high patient load.

DOH has also asked local government units to set up more treatment hubs and care clinics to help the patients.

“This treatment process provides accessibility, a system, and a mechanism to ensure a well-coordinated delivery of comprehensive services not only in the provision of the clinical care but also in support and prevention services, hence cutting the stigma on HIV,” said Analiza Balila, regional coordinator of National HIV, AIDS, and STI Prevention and Control Program (NASPCP) of the region.

Despite their efforts, DOH noted that there is no cure for HIV infection to date but with increasing access to effective HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care, including treatment for opportunistic infections and advanced AIDS condition, HIV infection has become a manageable chronic health condition, enabling people living with HIV to lead long and healthy lives.

With cases increasing, it is about time that safe sex practices should be talked about instead of hiding it behind the “conservative” culture of the provinces despite the numbers of sexually active individuals, recorded or not, speaking otherwise.


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