Aids prevalence among youth raised

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO --The Commission on Population (Popcom) is engaging in a campaign to make younger people aware of the prevalence of the number of HIV/Aids victims and teenage pregnancy in the country.

This is part of the Popcom’s H.E.A.R.T. program which stands for HIV/Aids, Early Sexual Encounter, Adolescent Sexuality, Reproductive Health and Teenage Pregnancy.

Popcom regional offices in the country are set for an information blast on social media and in schools through an infographic stating the most significant data about HIV/Aids, Early Sexual Encounter, Adolescent Sexuality, Reproductive Health, and Teenage Pregnancy.

The Department of Health reported in December 2016 through the HIV and Aids Registry of the Philippines (Harp) that there were 750 new HIV antibody sero-positive individuals. Most (96%) of the cases were male. More than half belong to the 25-34 year age group while 29% were youth aged 15-24 years. In 2016, the DOH recorded 9,264 cases of HIV/Aids, including 1,969 deaths.

In August 2016, DOHCentral Luzon said that in terms of the number of cases, Pampanga ranked second to Bulacan. The Aids victims are residents of Angeles and Mabalacat cities respectively. Angeles City also recorded eight HIV-positive patients, two from Apalit, one from Arayat, one from Lubao, one from Porac and one from Sto. Tomas town.

"This is significantly lower from the identified cases from the same period last year but we are still worried since Aids and HIV are not just typical diseases that can be cured," Vidar said.

She added the said recorded cases will add to the current 85 Aids cases and 754 HIV cases in the province since the disease was discovered in 1984.