Memory of those lost to AIDS honored today
Ilonggo advocates for the prevention and control of Human Immunodeficiency Virus -- Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV-AIDS) celebrate today the 24th Annual International AIDS Candlelight Memorial.
The activity will be held 4 p.m. at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol Grounds.
Charity Perea, regional Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) coordinator of Department of Health Western Visayas, said the candlelight memorial is a global celebration in remembrance of those who have died of HIV-AIDS and also to give support to people living with HIV-AIDS (PLWHAs).
This year's candlelight memorial is spearheaded by the Kabataang Gabay sa Positibong Pamumuhay (KGPP) a youth organization which also helps in the advocacy on HIV-AIDS prevention and control.
Other government agencies are expected to participate in the candlelight memorial. Aside from the candle lighting there will be testimonials to be given by at least two PLWHAs in the region. There will also be releasing of white balloons.
Perea noted that as of April this year there are already 47 PLWHAs in Western Visayas, 17 are females and 30 are males.
Of the 47 PLWHAs 17 have already died.
Perea, however, said that it could be possible that there are still other PLWHAs in the region who have not yet come out and are not included in their records.
She thus called on them to come out in the open so they could be given help.
On the national scale 2,742 cases have been reported from January 1984 to March 2007 with sexual intercourse as the leading mode of transmission.
Perea stressed that every year HIV-AIDS cases in the country keep on increasing. That is why, she said, it is very important to raise the awareness of the community about HIV-AIDS.
Perea gladly reported that Western Visayas is the only area in the country in which HIV-AIDS advocacy is very active.
She said several non-government organizations (NGOs) support the program.