The Davao City Health Office (CHO) has urged government officials and personnel to participate actively in the awareness and prevention campaign on Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS), in the face of the alarming increase of cases happening in the city and neighboring areas.
The latest government statistics indicated that the Davao Region ranks No. 5 in the number of HIV/AIDs cases discovered.
Pricilla Senoc, health education and population officer of the CHO said on Thursday that government leaders and personnel will serve as role models to encourage individuals to submit themselves to tests that are offered for free at the CHO and in order to access the medical treatment and other forms of assistance from the government.
“Stop thinking that HIV testing is a bad thing, educate your friends, your loved ones and let us stop the stigma” said Senoc.
During the I-Speak media forum at the City Hall, Senoc revealed that an average of 31 people are diagnosed with HIV/AIDS reported cases per day in the country.
Based on the national statistics of the Epidemiology Bureau of the Department of Health (DOH), a total of 7,579 recorded cases of HIV/AIDS cases, from January to August this year and there were 58,181 cases of people living with HIV from January 1984 to the present.
The National Capital Region has the highest number of cases of recorded HIV with 31 percent of all Filipinos afflicted, This is followed by Region 4A with 17 percent, Region 3 with 11 percent and Region 7 with 10 percent.
On the other hand, the Davao Region tied up at fifth place with 5 percent recorded HIV cases with 188 reported deaths among people living with HIV.
CHO recorded 2, 393 male and 132 female diagnosed with HIV within the city only.
The data also showed there were 7,168 males and 477 females diagnosed with HIV cases in the country.
Senoc said that Male to male sex transmission posed 4,432 cases and bisexual sex transmission has reached to 1,922 cases.
Mother-child transmission posted at 6 cases and sharing of needles as mode of transmission noted a 116 cases.
Senoc reminded the public that to prevent HIV-AIDS, one should practice abstinence, monogamy, and safe sex, refrain from using used syringes and correct use of condoms.
