AIDS cases surge
THE Philippines is in the midst of a “new wave” of HIV/AIDS — human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome — cases that have spread mostly among young people.
Paula Munderi, United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Prevention team leader, said the country had the fastest growing HIV epidemic
in the world, with 111,000 people living with HIV or PLHIV reported in 2020.
“The alarming rate of new infections of 237 percent between 2010 and 2020 has been concentrated mainly among key populations, particularly young gay men and transgender women in urban centers in the Philippines,” Munderi said in an interview on CNN Philippines.
Data from the Department of Health Epidemiology Bureau indicated that from January 1984 to February 2021, there were 84,610 cases of HIV/AIDS, broken down to 855 cases every month or 30 cases every day.
Of these cases, 804 are males and 51 were females, and 80 percent of those infected were between 15 and 34 years old.
Munderi said AIDS-related deaths jumped by 450 percent despite the availability of free lifesaving treatment for AIDS in 160 facilities across the country.
One reason for the resurgence of AIDS cases was that the Philippines “took its eye off the ball” and stopped concentrating on prevention programs especially in the most vulnerable population, she said.
The most affected segment consisted of “young, marginalized people who are not easily reached by mainstream health services and programs,” Munderi said.
The alarming rise in AIDS cases was one of the reasons why UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima held a virtual mission with key health stakeholders and communities, Munderi said.
Byanyima discussed with stakeholders from the government, private sector and civil society groups, including Sen. Ana Theresia Hontiveros and Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd, the country’s HIV response strategy in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Munderi said the mission virtually visited an HIV community clinic in Iloilo City to get acquainted with community leaders at the frontline of the HIV response.
“The good news that we learned on this mission is that the laws, the policies and guidelines are in place to support innovations that will give people options to preventing HIV infection, gaining access to testing and care across the spectrum of interventions,” Munderi said.
She commended the fact that the country’s new AIDS policy has been integrated with the Universal Health Care Act but stressed that it is equally critical that the health care program include HIV care for vulnerable populations.