Prelate backs HIV tests on OFWs; DOH records 858 new infections

A Catholic prelate said yesterday that he supports the calł of a lawmaker to returning migrant workers who engaged in high-risk sexual behavior to get themselves voluntarily tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Bishop Ruperto Santos, chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People, said this is in order to protect the persons concerned as well their families.

“We support this as it is protection for the persons involved and their families,” he said in an interview. But, the Balanga prelate said such test should be voluntary and private.

“It should be very private, voluntary and personal identities should be respected so that they will not be publicly blamed or ostracised,” said Santos.

Amid the increasing number of HIV cases, the CBCP official reiterated the importance of being faithful to one’s marital partner.

“Our Church always teaches fidelity to marital partners, abstinence and sacrifices so that not inflict harm nor endanger their loved ones,” Santos said.

Last Sunday, ACTS-OFW Rep. Aniceto Bertiz III urged OFWs who engaged in risky sexual behavior to get themselves voluntarily tested for HIV as OFWs with HIV now account for 10 percent of all cases in the National HIV and AIDS Registry.

The Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday that it recorded 859 new cases of HIV infections in the month of July.

The figure is lower than the 854 cases recorded in the same period last year, however there were also 30 deported deaths “due to any cause among people with HIV” last July.

Out of the 859 cases, 22 percent or 193 cases “had clinical manifestations of advanced HIV infection at the time of diagnosis,” the DOH said.

The data also showed that seven of the HIV-positive were pregnant at the time of diagnosis. Four came from the National Capital Region (NCR) and one case each came from Ilocos Region, Central Visayas, and Davao Region.