DOH-10 urges public to test for HIV/Aids

THE Department of Health (DOH)-Northern Mindanao is urging the public to have themselves tested for human immunodeficiency syndrome and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV-Aids).

This came after the significant decrease in the number of voluntary counseling and testings (VCTs) from 4,795 in 2017 to only 1,125 as of June 2018.

“Ang challenge ani niya (The challenge in this) is number one, kadto gyung mga dunay risk nga dili mag pa examine (those who are at risk but do not have themselves examined). Mao nay dako nga chellege kon unsaon nato na(The big challenge is how do we address that). Kay kon dili sila magpa examine, dili gyud nato mahibalonan kon unsa ang ilang estado (If they won’t let themselves be examined, we will never know their real state ),” Dr. Joey Retuya, of the City Health Office said.

According to DOH, there are 459 Kagay-anons who were diagnosed with HIV/ Aids, with the youngest aged at 15 to 18 years old from 2000 to March 2018.

It also showed in their data that the people who are affected by HIV/Aids are mostly men, particularly those who had sex with men.

DOH-10 also aims to target zero new HIV/Aids infections.

“That can be done. Kung sila tanan magpa-examine na, kinsa pa man mag infection kung na examine nato tanan (If all of them get tested, then the spread of infection can be stopped )?” Retuya said.

Retuya, likewise the public that the antiretroviral drugs, which are available in the City Health Office, are not medicines that can cure HIV/Aids. These drugs are taken to maximally suppress HIV and stop the progression of the disease.