BAGUIO CITY – The City Health Services Office has sought aggressive education and dissemination of information against Human Immuno-Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome due to the sharp increase in the number of cases here.
According to CHSO data, 21 cases were logged in 2019, 14 in 2020, 31 in 2021, 56 in 2022, and 19 in the first semester of 2023.
According to CHSO Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes at the recent AIDS Watch Council (AWAC) meeting with government agencies and private partners, HIV-infected population, especially from the vulnerable population, must be tested, properly diagnosed, and enrolled in Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART), to lower and suppress the viral load for people living with HIV (PLHIVs) and lead normal, healthy lives.
ART is a medical regimen that reduces and keeps the amount of the virus under control, making the infection non-transmissible.
However, other conditions, including disease of other origins, may persist even with ART.
The vulnerable population consists of men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender women, female sex workers, people who use and inject drugs, Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs), and women and children.
Data showed that not all key populations have access to preventive services or engage in protective behavior and not all PLHIV are diagnosed and not all diagnosed PLHIV are on life-saving ART.
Regarding the HIV prevention and care cascade model, an anti-STI/HIV-AIDS drive will increase awareness of HIV transmission, prevention, and services, provide a combination of prevention and access to services, and prevent new HIV infections.
The cascade model is part of the 2030 UN AIDS target.
Another important factor to consider is zero discrimination for PLHIV.
Discrimination often causes PLHIV not to seek medical services for their condition.