Health authorities in Negros Oriental and its capital city, Dumaguete, on Friday sounded a call to strengthen local efforts to support the global campaign for the elimination or reduction of HIV/AIDS cases.
The appeal was made as representatives from various sectors on Friday afternoon gathered for the culmination program at the Quezon Park in Dumaguete and a street parade around the city to culminate the observance of World AIDS Day.
Cristy Dagle, provincial coordinator of Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV/AIDS of the Integrated Provincial Health Office disclosed a large-scale campaign targeting the reduction by 50 percent the transmission of the Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus by 2015.
She said people coming down with STI and are not treated for the infection are at high risk of HIV which will later on become full blown AIDS or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome that leads to death.
For her part, Dr. Ma. Sarah Talla explained that local efforts focus on prevention and control of the spread of STI and HIV/AIDS through massive information dissemination, particularly on the “ABCDE” objectives.
The acronym, which is very easy to recall, stands for Abstinence, Be faithful (having a mutual monogamous relationship), Careful sex, Don’t use drugs/Don’t share needles/sterilized needles, and Education & information.
According to her, people are now more aware of the consequences of their actions and behaviors that run the risk of sexually transmitted infections.
Meanwhile, Dagle noted the rising cases of HIV/AIDS in the Philippines since the first case was diagnosed in 1984.
Available statistics show that from 1984 to October 2013, a total of 15,774 cases were reported in the country.
Most of these cases are in Metro Manila, Central Visayas comprising the provinces of Cebu, Negros Oriental, Bohol and Siquijor, and CALABARZON, Dagle said.
Many of these cases are reported in men through unprotected sex and the so-called MSM (men having sex with other men), she added.
From January to October 2013, 4,172 HIV positive cases were recorded in the Philippines, 491 of these in the month of October alone.
Recorded AIDS cases in the Philippines from 1984 to October 2013 reached 1,441, with 272 of these cases reported from January to October this year, Dagle revealed.
For October 2013 alone, 28 AIDS cases were recorded by health authorities.
In Central Visayas, a total of 1,172 HIV cases and 172 AIDS cases have been recorded since 1984 to October this year. Of the 172 AIDS cases in the Central Visayas region, 163 of these involved males, Dagle said.
Negros Oriental, meanwhile, has recorded two HIV positive cases from 2007 to present, with five persons with AIDS having already passed away, she added.
The culmination program and street parade on Friday saw the participation of students from various schools in Dumaguete, city government employees, social workers, barangay officials, the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the youth sector, employees of call centers, civic groups such as the Men in Action for Responsible Parenthood and the local HIV/AIDS council, among others.
A highlight of the program was a testimony of a person living with HIV, who was invited to share his life story.
The theme for this year’s observance of World AIDS Day is Getting to Zero. (PNA)
