EYE OPENER
HIV-AIDS patients among us
HIV-AIDS cases are becoming alarming! This was known during Friday’s press conference at Residence Hotel on the 21st World AIDS Day celebration. There are about 75 positive HIV-AIDS patients in the Philippines today. A breakdown by city and province of this dangerous disease was not given during the press conference.
Of the 75 HIV-AIDS cases, 19 are young people due to blood transmission as a result of the so-called barkada syndrome among the youth. In Cebu, six youths are positive of HIV-AIDS and the Department of Health is doing its best to prevent the spread of the dreaded disease. But how can one detect a person with HIV-AIDS as affected persons are not known even according to their looks or body language. Many of the agents of this dreaded disease roam around freely as RA 8504 (Philippine AIDS Law) states, “it is unlawful to discriminate PLHIVs.” One can be penalized to stop the stigma and discrimination. So the lawmakers that sponsored the bill are themselves propagating the silent spread of the disease. It is only 75 HIV-AIDS cases in the entire Philippines today, the sad news is there is no cure, nor vaccine to stop HIV-AIDS according to the information passed on to the media during the conference. Man has only one life and HIV-AIDS is a serious threat to life.
There are five ways to prevent and control HIV-AIDS infection: 1) abstinence, 2) be mutually faithful to uninfected partner, 3) careful sex (correct and consistent condom use), 4) don’t use drugs, nor drink too much alcohol and 5) education and early detection and treatment.
According to Nurse Charity Yanson Perea, Regional STI Coordinator, DOH CHD Region VI, seafarers are usually the main carrier of HIV-AIDS, and Perea’s observation was confirmed by mediamen and guests present. Foreign cargo vessels drop anchor in major ports of the world and seafarers visit nightclubs and entertainment houses and fill their sex thirst to the brim. In many parts of the Philippines, working girls in nightclubs are regularly checked by Filipino doctors and they are negative of dreadful disease, they are given health clearance certificate. In foreign countries, the practice of checking irreputable women affected with diseases may not be carried out religiously. It is now common to Filipino women to marry seamen as they are reportedly dollar earners and have plenty of money. Sad to say that if their husbands are gals in every port, most like they come in contact with women having HIV-AIDS or other dreadful women diseases. It is safe to say for Filipino women who have seafarer husbands to have them examined by physicians when they come home after months or year of absence from home.
Three modes of transmission of HIV-AIDS virus: 1) blood transfusion 90-98% through a) organ transplant, b) sharing used needles (IDU) and c) needle pricks (injecting needles). 2) sexual transmission, unprotected sex with multi-partners 98% depending on: a) frequency (sometimes often, always) and b) manner (anal, vaginal, oral). 3) mother to child transmission (15%-30%); a) during pregnancy 15%, b) process of delivery, 20% and through breastfeeding 30%. Four body fluids capable of transmitting HIV, 1) blood, 2) breast milk, 3) vaginal fluid and 4) seminal fluid.
One can never tell if someone has HIV simply by the way he/she looks, feels or acts. HIV is a very fragile type of virus that can never thrive outside the body. But inside a human body conditions are perfect for the virus to survive and multiply. Never allow HIV to get inside you. Don’t do risky behaviors. It’s not who you are, but what you do that makes you vulnerable to HIV. Seek God’s healing power as the Lord is our great physician and healer. Always call upon God and seek His face and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, do away with all sins and be righteous and holy until Jesus Christ comes.
