Over 5,000 OFWs stricken with HIV/AIDS

Here’s one alarming statistic about overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

According to ACTS-OFW Rep. Aniceto "John" Bertiz III, a total of 5,537 OFWs have either tested positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, or have full-blown Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), making up 11 percent of the 52,280 cases listed in the Department of Health (DOH) National HIV/AIDS Registry as of February 28, 2018.

"This is very unfortunate, because if we look at the median age of these OFWs – at 32 to 34 years old – they are actually at the top of their lives in terms of potential workforce productivity," Bertiz said.

Citing registry statistics, Bertiz said that from January to February this year alone, 140 OFWs – 129 males and 11 females – were newly diagnosed as HIV positivie.

Tight spot HIV is a precusor to AIDS. There is still no known or proven cure for HIV/AIDS, which destroys the human body’s natural ability to fight off all kinds of infections.

Several forms of treatment, however, have been known to slow down the course of the syndrome.

Casual sex casualties

“Almost all of the OFWs in the registry acquired the infection via sexual contact,” said the minority solon.

The problem underscores the need for the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to invest more aggressively in HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention among workers in general and OFWs in particular, Bertiz said.

“Awareness and prevention are our best tools against infection,” the lawmaker said.

OFWs are susceptible to HIV infection because they are exposed to foreign cultures that usually encourage high-risk behavior, including casual sex, claimed Bertiz.

He also acknowledged that Filipino sailors are especially vulnerable at their foreign ports of call after spending lengthy periods at sea.

“And they have the money to pay for readily available commercial or transactional sex services in foreign ports," he pointed out.