The City’s Reproductive Health and Wellness Center has blamed ‘risky sex behaviors’ for a total of 26 HIV-AIDS in Davao City from January to June this year.
“An ounce of prevention remains the best defense against HIV-AIDs,” said Patrick Albit, program officer of the RHWC.
Based on the record of RHWC,191 of the new cases are asymptomatic, or thosefound to have HIV but show no symptoms yet.
The 26 cases are fully-developed AIDS. This brings the total to 1,850 asymptomatic and 230 HIV/AIDS fully-developed cases from 1984 to present.
Albit said that cases are higher among males because of their riskier sexual behavior than females.
In the Davao region, the age group with the biggest proportion of cases was noted among those aged 25 to 34 with 135 new cases. Next is the 15-24 age group with 103 cases, 35-49 with 38, and 50 older with 2 cases.
Data from January to November 2016 were not available but records showed there were 401 cases last year, 345 were asymptomatic while 56 were AIDS. Still, cases among males were higher with 381 compared to 20 among females.
Based on the HIV/AIDS and ART Registry of the Philippines (HARP), 4% cases were reported from January to June 2017 in Region XI (247 were asymptomatic and 32 were AIDS). Total of 279 cases by both males and females.
Albit said the increase could be attributed to several factors. Among them are the people who engage in risky sexual behavior, or those who have multiple sex partners, to have themselves tested because HIV develops into AIDS in 5 to 10 years.
“Everyone is encouraged to access free services on HIV-AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) offered by the government, because right to health is a basic universal right of all children and people. We offer free STI, HIV and AIDS services including counseling, testing and treatment,” he said
The RHWC holds clinic-based consultations. In a month, hundreds of patients visit the clinic to have themselves tested for HIV-AIDS, although there are patients who are afraid to come out for fear of stigma, if not self-perceived discrimination.
“We highly encourage everyone to visit Reproductive Health and Wellness Center of the City Health Office (temporarily located at Negosyo Center of Magsaysay Park, Room 10). For more info, people could also visit our facebook page/s: IngatLagi Davao and RHWC Davao, said Albit.
