CAPIZ — The province of Capiz is facing a growing public health concern as the Capiz Provincial Health Office (CPHO) reported 104 new cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) from January to August 2025.
This surge brings the province’s total reported cases to 934 since monitoring began in 1994, underscoring the urgent need for intensified awareness, prevention, and intervention efforts.
Of the newly recorded cases, a vast majority—97—are male, while seven are female. Alarmingly, 37 of the cases involve individuals aged 15 to 24, highlighting rising vulnerability among young people. Two cases were reported in individuals aged 50 and above, indicating that the virus continues to affect a wide age spectrum.
Roxas City logged the highest number of new infections at 44, followed by Pontevedra with seven. Other municipalities with reported increases include Panay, Pilar, Maayon, and Sapian.
With these figures, Capiz remains among the provinces with the highest HIV burden in Western Visayas, trailing only Iloilo City and Iloilo Province.
Health Program Officer Carlo Paolo Bermejo of the CPHO expressed concern over the rising number of young individuals contracting the virus.
“We are increasingly witnessing that HIV cases are becoming younger. The 15–24 age group is exhibiting a concerning rise in new infections. This calls for immediate action and targeted education about safe practices,” Bermejo said.
He noted that male-to-male sexual contact remains the predominant mode of transmission and stressed the need for comprehensive sexual health education tailored to the youth.
Bermejo reiterated that HIV does not discriminate by age or gender and emphasized that anyone can become infected if exposed to the virus. While some cases emerge from mother-to-child transmission, he stressed the importance of adopting a holistic approach to prevention — including abstinence, fidelity, correct condom use, avoiding substance abuse, and ensuring early detection and treatment.
Free treatment and support services are available at the Senator Gerardo M. Roxas District Hospital, Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital, and the Roxas City Health Office.
Health officials emphasized, however, that access to treatment must be paired with sustained education and awareness campaigns to curb the rising number of infections.
As HIV continues to pose a significant public health challenge in Capiz, collaboration among local government units, community groups, and healthcare providers is crucial. Authorities are urging communities to engage in outreach programs that disseminate accurate information, dispel myths, and promote safe sexual practices.
Only through a united effort, they stressed, can Capiz turn this crisis into an opportunity for prevention, education, and strengthened community resilience — and move toward a future where the spread of HIV is significantly reduced./PN
