CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- A total of 2,561 cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been recorded in the Northern Mindanao region from the first detection in 1991, a Department of Health Region 10 (DOH-10) official confirmed on Thursday, Dec. 1.
Dr. Wellaflor Brito, head of DOH-10 Infectious Diseases Cluster, said in a media forum that the data include the 66 new HIV cases in the region for the month of September this year.
With the newly-confirmed cases, the DOH-10 already recorded 430 HIV cases in the region from January to September of 2022.
The province of Misamis Oriental -- including Cagayan de Oro City -- has tallied the most number of HIV cases in the region with 1,431.
This was followed by Bukidnon with 468 cases, Lanao del Norte (including Iligan City) with 428 cases, Misamis Occidental with 200 cases, and Camiguin with 34 HIV cases.
Brito stressed that the public must be more aware and knowledgeable of HIV prevention to avoid infection. The trend of HIV cases in the country incidentally is increasing based on the average cases detected per day.
“In 2012, we had an average in the Philippines of nine HIV cases per day. In 2017, we have 30 average cases per day. In 2021, it increased more to 34 new cases per day, and now in 2022 we are at 42 newly-diagnosed cases per day. So, our cases are increasing every time,” warned Brito.
The DOH-10 is now focusing on putting more awareness to the youth as the HIV cases are increasing particularly for the young key population - individuals aged from 15 to 24 years old.
“More and more cases have been diagnosed at 15 to 24 years old. So, we have to go younger and younger in terms of prevention, in terms of advocacy and in terms of education,” Brito added.
Raffy Ardemil, HIV case manager in Cagayan de Oro City Health Office and a person living with HIV (PLHIV), in the same media forum, said the discrimination against PLHIV still exists; reason why many infected individuals are afraid to disclose their status.
However, Ardemil always encouraged his clients to document the incident of discrimination in the workplace in order to provide appropriate actions, as persons with HIV are protected by the law under Republic Act No. 11166 or the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act.
“Once you experience discrimination in the workplace, try to approach me as we have officer that can handle the concern and the discrimination must be documented,” Ardemil said in vernacular.
HIV advocates always reminded the public as to the key on how to avoid the said virus infection, which is the ‘ABCDE’ that stands for abstinence, be mutually faithful with the partner, consistent and correct use of condoms, don't use drugs and early detection and education.
Every first of December, the world commemorates and observes the ‘World AIDS Day” to increase awareness, educate and to advocate all ages of life on HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
It also commemorates all infected individuals who have died of the disease.