CV now second with most HIV cases

After ranking third in 2014 with having the most number of HIV cases in the country, Central Visayas has climbed to second place based on the data recently released by the Department of Health.

However, health officials said that the increased number of reported cases only shows wider awareness of people taking initiative on HIV prevention.

“Nagka-increase ang awareness sa HIV and AIDS through various mediums which might encourage them (people living with HIV) to undergo HIV testing. Nagkadaghan pud ang agencies that offer free HIV testing,” said Dr. Chamberlain Agtuca, HIV/AIDS Core Team (HACT) Coordinator of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC).

HIV/AIDS and ART Registry of the Philippines projected 646 newly diagnosed HIV cases nationwide in February 2015, which is 33 percent higher compared to the same period last year.

Out of the 646 new cases, 15 percent or 96 individuals are in Central Visayas. In 2014, 537 new cases were recorded, 53 of which were from region-7.

Agtuca affirmed that HIV cases have been increasing this year compared to cases reported in 2014.

He said last year, the average reported cases per month was 18 while the number increased to 34 this year.

Agtuca further said that 93 percent of the reported HIV cases were male while only 7 percent were female.

DOH-7 assistant regional director Dr. Lakshmi Legaspi said that the number of cases can be considered “very alarming.”

Dr. Jonathan Niel Erasmo, HIV and AIDS Coordinator of DOH-7, said the increased cases of HIV were the result of the fact that there are more available services for HIV testing.

“Nalipay ta nga pinaagi ani, nakita nato sa atong health facilities and on our local government units nga mihatag sa appropriate services aron mahatagan nato sa saktong pagtagad ang nanginahanglan,” he said.