CONDOM distribution in schools is set to be pilot-tested in the National Capital Region (NCR), Central Luzon, and Calabarzon, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
In an interview, Heath Secretary Paulyn Ubial said that they have elected to pilot test their anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) program in regions where there are highest incidences of the disease among the youth aged 15-24 years old.
“The areas with highest incidence of HIV/AIDS among 15-24 years old, those are where we will pilot the program. Basically, that is NCR, Region 4A, and Region 3,” said Ubial.
The health chief said they are looking to start the program by the start of School Year 2017-2018.
“As soon as the guidelines are out, then we can start the pilot test. We are thinking of starting it by the next school year, in June,” said Ubial.
She said they will evaluate the program and the actual number of condoms they need depending on the result in the pilot test areas.
“As of now, we have nine million condoms in our storage. But the actual number will depend on the pilot testing of the program among our school-aged youths,” said the official.
Ubial said they are already discussing with the Department of Education (DepEd) on how best to implement the program, which is aimed at addressing the rise in the number of HIV cases among the youth.
Based on the November 2016 HIV/AIDS Registry Report (HARP) of the DOH, there are a total of 9,286 HIV cases among the youth from January 2011 to November 2016.
The figure is a far cry from the 1,213 HIV cases reported among the youth that have been reported from January 1984 to December 2010.
Meanwhile, a total of 758 new HIV cases were reported last month alone, including 86 that developed into full-blown AIDS cases. There were also 21 deaths reported in November.
The most common mode of transmission remains to be sexual contact with 732 (96.6 percent), of which, 642 (87.7 percent) are male-having-sex-with-male (MSM) population.
Homosexual contact had the highest number of transmission with 399; followed by bisexual contact with 243; and heterosexual contact with 90.
Injecting drug users netted a total of 25 cases, while one mother-to-child transmission was reported also.
A total of 51 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were also reported, all of which were afflicted through sexual contact.
Metro Manila had the highest number of new cases with 301; followed by Calabarzon with 108; Central Luzon with 73; Central Visayas with 72; and Davao Region with 47.
From January to November of this year, a total of 8,514 HIV cases have been reported, with 1,041 full-blown AIDS cases, and 402 deaths.
Since 1984, a total of 38,872 HIV cases were reported, with 3,593 full-blown AIDS cases, and 1,932 deaths. (Sunnex)