HIV / AIDS cases on the rise in C. Visayas

CEBU CITY – The Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH) 7 revealed that the number of HIV/AIDS cases in the region continues to rise at a rapid pace.

DOH 7 Medical Officer Dr. Shelbay Blanco said the number of individuals diagnosed per day is increasing from one person per day in 2008 to 26 individual per day at present.

Blanco added that the number of cases is rising, with those afflicted getting younger at 10 years old and below due to mother-to-child transmission.

Last February, there were 55 reported HIV/AIDS related deaths in the region. Ninety six percent of the victims are male and four percent female.

Twenty five of the reported deaths belong to the 25-34 year age group, 16 were in the 35-49 year age group, while 13 were youth aged 15-24 years old.

In line with this, the DOH will hold the World AIDS Candlelight Day activity in memory of those who passed away due to AIDS.

The Candlelight day is open to public and will be held on May 22 at SM Consolacion Cebu, parking lot.

“Maybe because of the increasing number of AIDS cases, it is high time to put ourselves into such activity to give awareness to general public in terms of how rampant HIV/AIDS is in our midst right now,” said Blanco

The first case of HIV/AIDS infection in the Philippines was reported in 1984.

From January 1984 to February 2016, there has been 31,911 HIV positive cases reported. A total of 1,649 deaths were reported from January 1984 to February 2016.

Sexual contact remains the most common mode of HIV/ AIDS transmission.