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BY RESEL JOY T. TIANERO
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ILOILO City – Region 6 is not among the priority areas for the school distribution of condoms next year, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
Region 3 (Central Luzon), Region 4-A (CALABARZON) and the National Capital Region are the priority regions, clarified Dr. Marlyn Convocar, DOH-6 director.
Citing the sharp rise in HIV/AIDS cases among the youth, DOH announced that starting next year it would distribute condoms in schools as part of its “business unusual” strategy.
According to Convocar, DOH picked the three priority regions because people there have poor access to condoms and thus vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections.
DOH recorded 355 new HIV/AIDS from July to October this year. Of these, 122 are adolescents aged 10 to 19 years old, and 120 of them acquired HIV through sexual contact.
“Nagataas ang cases sa amo ni nga age group pero ang condom use manubo. Manubo kay indi available ang condoms para gamiton,” explained Convocar.
According to Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial, DOH would work with the Department of Education (DepEd) to implement the condom distribution program on a pilot-test basis.
Results of recent studies showed that Filipinos were increasingly engaging in sex at a very young age, she added.
Ubial said DOH will be preparing “school authorities, teachers, principals, healthcare providers.”
The focus is to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexuality transmitted infections, she stressed.
Data show that from 1984 to October 2016, a total of 38,114 HIV cases were recorded, with 32,099 tallied from 2011 to 2016. Among 15 to 24 years olds, there were 10,279 HIV cases during the period, of which 9,066 were tallied since 2011./PN
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