BUTUAN CITY -- The Department of Health (DOH) in the Caraga Region expressed alarm over the increase of individuals who have tested positive for the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV during a press conference, Wednesday, September 28, 2016.
DOH Caraga revealed the data pointing out that from 1995 to June 2016, HIV cases have now reached 277 with 23 reported HIV-Aids related deaths.
“The increase of HIV cases here in Caraga Region is alarming, we’ve seen it’s fast rise and we do acknowledge the need for better implementation of measures. As of June this year, there are five new HIV absero-positive individuals confirmed by the STD/Aids Cooperative Central Laboratory (SACCL) and reported to the HIV and Aids Registry,” said Joy Dyana Cervantes, HIV coordinator for the DOH in Caraga Region.
Cervantes, however, said the increase may also be because more people are having themselves tested due to increased awareness.
“We also attribute the increase in the data to awareness as more people are starting to have themselves tested for HIV, and we are also encouraging more people to have themselves checked. And as the numbers of people tested would increase, so we are expecting those tested positive for HIV/Aids this to rise, so then we have to strengthen our advocacy especially in the prevention,” she said.
Cervantes explained that the program of the DOH, which promotes the use of condoms, has not been fully accepted by communities due to cultural beliefs.
“With regards to the condom use program, we have to consider a lot of things; first we have to consider our culture, a culture which is not yet that broad with regards to condom use, with regards to the Department of Education they have guidelines in terms of teaching our students in the importance of condom use, so it’s hard to penetrate it to our schools,” said Cervantes.
“For now, we have our trained peer educators; they give out condom to our most at risk population. Yet again, we have a lot of factors to consider especially in our communities since not everyone is that open to condom use,” she added.
A sexually active senior high school student studying in Butuan City who requested anonymity, said there are several reasons why many her age don’t use condoms.
“There is a stigma, an unspoken notion among students that using condom does not feel as good as to not using any. We fear of getting pregnant but non ever talks about the fear of HIV/Aids since most of us think that we will not get it as long as we are only doing it with our boy friend,” said Sandy who later found out that her boyfriend lost his virginity to an older woman who have had several sexual partners of her own.
Roger, a 24 years old bisexual who practice anal sex, revealed his relief after testing negative of HIV.
“I don’t really use condoms, especially when I really like the guy, it feels like asking him to use one is an insult and I’m afraid it might turn him off. But after I tested negative, I will really have to push myself and partner to use condom. Unfortunately, the government has not really pushed the use of condoms into areas like school’s since most of the guy’s their open practice male to male sex without protection,” said Roger.
Over all DOH-Caraga data shows that 25-34 years old (49.4 percent) age group had the most number of cases, with 18 years old as the youngest and 67 years old as the oldest. Most of the cases 262 (94 percent) were male while 15 cases or 6 percent were female.
All of the 277 reported sexual contact as the mode of transmission. Homosexual contact numbering 130 (47 percent) was the most predominant mode of sexual transmission.
Most about 93 percent or 257 of the cases were still asymptomatic at the time of reporting with Butuan City topping the cases in the region with 103 followed by Surigao del Sur with 54 and 46 for Surigao del Norte.
Dr Genesis Samonte, Epidemiology Program Manager of the DOH, said 25 people nationwide get infected daily.
“We have 25 people who get infected daily by HIV but this statistic is only based on those who get tested and not on the entire population. This is an underestimate of people who actually have HIV because some refuse to be tested or do not know where and how to get tested, especially in urban areas,” said Samonte.
Samonte added that if the person’s first sexual experience did not involve the use of condom then it would be more difficult for them to use condoms in the future.