The Department of Health (DOH) has raised the alarm over the rising number of Filipinos contracting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the past several months, adding that the ages of patients developing HIV/AIDS were getting younger.
According to DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa, this spurred the health department to target its HIV awareness campaigns squarely at the nation’s youth in an effort to raise their awareness of the disease’s dangers.
He further explained that the problem has evolved into one of the “adolescent health problems” for which the government is now “trying to stave off the increase in new cases.”
He also mentioned that certain urban centers have a higher frequency of HIV cases than others and that the department has already identified the target areas.
Currently, there is no cure for the virus. However, various medical and pharmaceutical giants across the world are presently conducting a series of formulations in order to find a cure for HIV/AIDS.
High cases, younger infectees
The DOH reported 1,256 confirmed infections in May, 323 of which were deemed to have advanced HIV disease in July. 396 or 32 percent of the cases in May involved people aged 15 to 24.
Since January 1984, there have been 116,504 infections reported in the nation as a whole, according to the report.
The National Capital Region, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon have the most number of new cases, it added.
Despite acknowledging that the nation has to expand its antiretroviral drug procurement, Herbosa also stated that the government needs to enhance the distribution of HIV medications, adding that stockpiles are only in major hubs.
What can you do?
These steps can help reduce your risk of becoming infected with HIV if you are HIV-negative, according to the DOH:
- Remember to always use condoms.
- Attempt to regulate the frequency of your sexual encounters.
- Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a daily medication that can reduce the likelihood of developing HIV.
- Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) should be initiated no later than 72 hours after a possible HIV encounter.
- Get checked for STDs and other diseases, and get treatment for any infections you may have.
- You should encourage your partner to get tested for other STIs, to get treatment if they test positive, and to maintain their treatment if they test positive for HIV.
If you are HIV positive and want to protect others from getting the virus, you must do the following:
- Treatment with HIV medicines and antiretroviral therapy (ART) should be undertaken.
- Ensure that your viral load remains undetectable at all times. Undetectable is the same as untransmittable.
- Always listen to the directions that your doctor gives you.
- Use condoms.
- Decide to engage in sexual activities that threaten your health less, such as mutual masturbation and other forms of sexual activity that do not entail direct contact with bodily fluids. Abstinence is another alternative to consider.
- Find out if you have any additional sexually transmitted infections and be treated for them.
- Encourage your partner to get checked for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and treated for any that are found.
- Talk to your partner, relatives, and friends who do not carry HIV about PrEP and PEP.
While life does not end with HIV, it is crucial to take every step seriously in order to prevent the spread of the virus while experts are still finding a cure for HIV and AIDS.
