125 DIE OF HIV/AIDS

However, not all deaths related to HIV/Aids were recorded since 1984 up to present as some died in homes

A total of 125 reported death cases due to HIV/Aids was recorded in Davao City between 1984 and August 2018.

“Hindi lahat narerecord, narereport specially when they die sa bahay (Not all were recorded especially when the person died at the house),” Reporductive Health and Wellness Center (RHWC) head doctor Jordana Ramiterre said during yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at The Annex of SM City Davao.

Alliance Against Aids (Alagad) executive director Alma Mondragon said that there are small number of reported HIV/ Aids cases because others were not recorded.

Between July 2018 and 1984, there were 2,525 people who diagnosed with HIV/Aids consisting 95 percent male and five percent female.

The age group 25 to 34 years has the highest number with 1,181 followed by the 15-25 (1,004), 35-49 (287), 46-50 (46).

Estimated 90 percent of HIV cases were acquired from sexual transmission.

Ramiterre added that based on the epidemiology survey, the reason males have the bigger percentage of having the infection because the current driver of the HIV are males having sex with males and she said that studies would show that the infection are mostly in this group because of the practices that they had.

Human Immunodefiency Virus (HIV) can be acquired from a person to another by unprotected sex, intercourse through vaginal and anal with an infected partner, infected blood components through contaminated blood transfusion, and contaminated injection and tattooing.

An infected mother to child through birth, breastfeeding, and pregnancy are also one of the modes of transmission of those with HIV to their children.

HIV attacks the immune system specifically the T-cells that fight off the pathogen, which causes infections and weakens the immune system.

Acquired Immunodefiency Syndrome (Aids) is the late stage of HIV where the immune system is badly damaged by the virus. The infection has no cure but it has treatment which is Anti Retroviral Therapy (ATR). Once taken daily, it has a chance to prolong the life of the infected individual.

Chances of having the infection can be prevented through abstinence, consistent and correct use of condoms, practicing safe using of syringes, Education and Early Detection and being mutually faithful to a partner.