5,101 HIV cases logged this year

MANILA, Philippines, May 16 ------ As the country prepares to mark International AIDS Memorial Day, the Department of Health (DOH) has reported that over 5,000 cases of HIV or human immunodeficiency virus have been recorded during the first three months of the year. 

Data from the DOH showed that 5,101 confirmed cases of HIV were recorded from January to March. The figure is 50 percent higher than the number of cases recorded in the same period last year. Of the cases, 1,122 were considered in advanced stages at the time of diagnosis, higher by 12 percent than last year. 

Health authorities said that during the first three months last year, the avergae number of cases stood at 37 per day. This year, the daily average was 57 infections. Meanwhile, the average monthly cases reached 1,700 or 50 percent higher than the same period last year. The National Capital Region, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Davao, Western Visayas and Central Visayas recorded the highest number of infections, accounting for 69 percent of the total cases. Thirty-one percent of the cases were reported in other regions. 

Of the newly reported cases, 4,849 were men and 252 were women. The country’s HIV/AIDS Registry has recorded 148,831 confirmed cases since the first infection was reported in 1984. In observance of International AIDS Memorial Day, the DOH said it would launch a campaign to raise and strengthen awareness on HIV and AIDS or acute immune deficiency syndrome. 

The campaign’s theme, “We Remember, We Rise, We Lead,” will highlight calls for all sectors to unite against system barriers such as stigma and discrimination, and uphold the rights of every person regardless of HIV status. “The event also aims to remember the lives of those who have died from the disease, and show solidarity to people living with HIV,” the DOH said. 

Source: philstar.com