BACOLOD City – The STI/HIV/AIDS council was reactivated in view of the increasing number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases in this capital city.
The City Health Office (CHO) recorded 93 HIV and AIDS cases from January to November last year.
Of the total number, 87 involved male patients and five involved female patients.
CHO head Maria Carmela Gensol released these data to the public Thursday last week.
In Bacolod, there are now 474 cases since 1984.
The CHO aims to strengthen the campaign against HIV and AIDS in reactivating the STI/HIV/AIDS council, which had been inactive for three years.
Gensoli said cooperation from barangays is essential in launching the campaign at the grassroots level.
She also stressed that safe sex practice will help prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS.
HIV continues to be a major global public health issue, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
In 2017, 940 000 people died from HIV-related causes around the world, the WHO reported.
The virus targets the immune system and weakens people’s defense systems against infections and some types of cancer.
As it destroys and impairs the function of immune cells, infected individuals gradually become immunodeficient. Immune function is typically measured by CD4 cell count./PN
