ILOILO – This province recorded 29 new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in January, data from the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) showed.
The town of Pavia had the highest number of cases at four, followed by Oton with three and Santa Barbara with two cases.
HIV is a virus that attacks cells that help the body fight infection, making a person more vulnerable to other infections and diseases. It is spread by contact with certain bodily fluids of a person with HIV, most commonly during unprotected sex (sex without a condom) or through sharing injection drug equipment.
The following towns recorded one case each: Pototan, Janiuay, Barotac Viejo, Dumangas, Lambunao, Leganes, Calinog, San Miguel, Guimbal, San Dionisio, Estancia, Sara, Dingle, Anilao, Balasan, New Lucena, Tubungan, Alimodian, Lemery, and Batad.
If left untreated, HIV can lead to the disease AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), the late stage of HIV infection that occurs when the body’s immune system is badly damaged because of the virus.
Here is the breakdown of Iloilo’s HIV cases per age group:
* less than 15 years old – one case
* 15 to 24 years old – seven cases
* 25 to 34 years old – 15 cases
* 35 to 49 years old – five cases
* 50 years old and above – one case
For the mode of transmission:
* Males to males only – 22 cases
* Males to males and females – two cases
* Males to females – five cases
IPHO said all 29 cases were males.
“From 1986 to January 2023, the province of Iloilo recorded 1,518 cases and of this, 29 ang na-record nga new cases for January 2023 alone,” said Dr. Rodney Labis, chief of the Health Service Delivery Division of the IPHO.
Here is the breakdown of the 1,518 cases per year: 2005 (three), 2006 (three), 2008 (one), 2009 (one), 2011 (five), 2012 (21), 2013 (36), 2014 (50), 2015 (83), 2016 (92), 2017 (130), 2018 (202), 2019 (191), 2020 (153), 2021 (229), 2022 (289), and as of January 2023 (29).
Most affected age group:
* Less than 15 years old – four cases
* 15 to 24 years old – 481 cases
* 25 to 34 years old – 738 cases
* 35 to 49 cases – 261 cases
* 50 years old and above – 34 cases
Mode of transmission:
* Males to males only – 888 cases
* Males to males and females – 396 cases
* Males to females sex – 211 cases
* Mother-to-child – two cases
* unknown – 21 cases
Labis noted an upward trend could be observed beginning in 2020.
The top 10 localities with the highest cumulative HIV cases since 1986 were Oton (122), Pavia (107), Pototan (67), Cabatuan (58), Miag-ao (58), Janiuay (56), Santa Barbara (55), Barotac Nuevo (54), Passi City (54), and Dumangas (49).
Labis also explained in the past 12 months, the Department of Health (DOH) central office released a survey regarding the identified risk behaviors that contributed to new cases.
Results showed that among the factors were anal sex with males (71 percent), payment for sex (37 percent), and sex with females (20 percent).
Strategies implemented vs HIV
The provincial government, through the IPHO, together with partnered agencies and local government units, strengthens HIV counseling and testing coverage for more people to know their HIV status, be given proper medication and avoid further transmission.
“Importante gid nga mabal-an sang aton pumoluyo ang ila HIV status para at the earliest possible time, kon ma-infect sila sang HIV, ma-diagnose sila dayon and ma-link sa HIV treatment para malikawan nga mahulog sa AIDS,” explained Labis.
To increase public awareness of HIV, the IPHO, together with partnered agencies, intensified the information and education campaign.
The provincial health officer said health facilities in the city and province that offer HIV treatment are: Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao district, Rep. Pedro G. Trono Memorial Hospital in Guimbal, Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan, and Jesus M. Colmenares Memorial District Hospital in Balasan.
IPHO is also pushing the rural health units to be accredited for HIV testing so that testing and treatment will be more accessible to the public.
How to avoid HIV infection?
“Importante ang practice sang safe or protected safe sex. And as much as possible, ma-stick kita sa one partner lang,” said Labis.
The spread of infection could be prevented if one person is aware of the partner’s HIV status, he added, and sexually active individuals should get an HIV test every three months.
The IPHO also recommended avoiding the sharing of needles.
HIV is only transmitted through the exchange of body fluids from infected people, such as blood, breast milk, semen, and vaginal secretions, and from a mother to her child during pregnancy and delivery.
Individuals cannot become infected through ordinary day-to-day contacts such as kissing, hugging, shaking hands, or sharing utensils, food, or water.
As such, Labis advised everyone not to discriminately avoid people living with HIV./PN
