World AIDS Day, recalls everyone's vulnerability
"Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise" is the theme of the World AIDS Day on December 1, 2006 which reminds everyone that HIV/AIDS is fatal but preventable.
Ms. Charity Y. Perea, DOH VI Regional STI Coordinator said that the country is crossing over a "low and slow" situation to a "hidden and growing" HIV/AIDS phenomenon.
She said Region VI has recorded forty-two people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) from 1994 to 2006. Recent data showed 14 deaths from year 2003 to 2006, now bringing to a total of 28 PLWHAs to date.
"These data pertain only to those who have surfaced and have availed themselves of the services of the DOH and some non-government institutions here. There could be more out there, but are still afraid to surface because of the stigma", Perea said.
Perea said that l8 PLWHAs were recorded for Iloilo province; Negros - 17; Guimaras - 1; Capiz - 2; and Aklan - 4.
"The seriousness of the HIV/AIDS threat does not concern only those who belong to the health sector. The local government should recognize that multi-sectoral involvement is essential to a successful national and local response to HIV infection," Perea said.
Perea also said, a regional mechanism for STD prevention and control was formed. She noted that people living with HIV/AIDS have participated in the conduct of forum/advocacy campaign against the spread of HIV/AIDS with their testimonies in several parts of the region.
She said that current data indicate that young adults, men who have sex with men, people in prostitution, intravenous drug users, overseas Filipino workers and the partners of all these groups are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection.
The DOH VI STI Coordinator emphasized that infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breastmilk are the body fluids capable of transmitting HIV. She likewise enumerated five ways of HIV/AIDS prevention and Control, and these are: a) abstain from sex; b) be mutually faithful to uninfected partner; c) careful sex; d) drug-free; and e) education and early detection and treatment.
(T.Villavert/PIA)