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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider DOH-CHD Davao pushes more thorough HIV test

DOH-CHD Davao pushes more thorough HIV test

Published Jul 3, 2024 10:39 am

DAVAO CITY – The Department of Health-Center for Health Development Davao urged individuals who engage in high-risk activities to pursue appropriate medical consultation even if they have conducted a Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) self-test.

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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the self-test provides a convenient and private way to discover an individual's HIV status at own convenience. In 2016, WHO recommended HIV self-testing as a safe, accurate, and effective way to reach people who might not get tested.

Speaking during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on Tuesday, DOH-CHD Davao director Dr. Annabelle P. Yumang said buying HIV self-test kits is not a problem. For diagnostics, she said it would be best if a professional medical practitioner interpret the result to the patient with confidentiality.

“Whether you buy the self-testing from a pharmacy or online, it is not about the quality, but who would interpret the result for you? How will you accept the result? For diagnosing HIV there is a process involved. It’s not just about testing positive or negative,” Yumang said.

Yumang said that from a medical perspective, using HIV self-test kits alone is not advisable, as part of their advocacy is to encourage people with risky behaviors to consult a doctor to enable them to have proper treatment, with confidentiality, if tested positive for HIV.

The DOH-CHD Davao reported 7,066 cases of HIV and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome in the Davao region as of December 2023. Davao City logged the highest number of cases with 4,855, followed by Davao del Norte with 1,025, Davao del Sur (443), Davao de Oro (369), Davao Oriental (246), and Davao Occidental (128).

The agency noted that 403 females and 6,663 males tested positive for HIV-AIDS. The age group most affected was 25 to 34, followed by 15 to 24, 35-49, and 50 and older.

DOH-CHD Davao said that 63 patients had antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 83 percent had viral suppression.

HIV is spread through male having sex with male, males having sex with both genders, male-to-female sex, and mother-to-child transmission.
 

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HIV/AIDS Davao region Davao City DOH
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