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[av_heading heading=’‘There could be more HIV cases in Aklan’’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY BOY RYAN ZABAL
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KALIBO, Aklan – Statistics does not necessarily reflect the real situation as far as HIV/AIDS is concerned, according to an organization of gay people working to prevent the spread of the disease.
The number of recorded HIV/AIDS cases in Aklan could be just the tip of the iceberg, said Robby Bastareche, chairperson of the Butterfly Brigade.
Aklan had 21 HIV/AIDS cases in 2015. Ten more cases were recorded from January to June this year.
According to the Department of Health (DOH), 81 people living with HIV were recorded in the province from January 1986 to June 2016 — 20 full-blown AIDS cases and 61 asymptomatic cases.
An asymptomatic infection means the patient has no symptoms typically seen in others with HIV, including weight loss, fever, oral thrush, and weakened immune system.
While the DOH started monitoring HIV/AIDS cases in 1986, the first HIV case in Aklan was reported in 1999, followed by two cases in 2002. There were 15 new cases in 2013 and 11 in 2014.
All these cases were only those who have been tested for the virus, so there could be more, according to Bastareche.
“How about those who have not submitted themselves for HIV testing?” he said. “They don’t know, they might be infected and marami na silang na-infect.”
HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, causes AIDS, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
Based on DOH’s HIV/AIDS registry, Iloilo City has 46 AIDS cases and 301 asymptomatic cases so far, followed by Iloilo province with 42 AIDS cases and 210 asymptomatic cases.
Bacolod City has 41 AIDS cases and 220 asymptomatic cases, while Negros Occidental has 39 and 202, respectively.
Antique also registered 15 AIDS cases and 39 asymptomatic cases; Capiz, nine and 87; and Guimaras, five and 20.
Cases in Aklan have tripled, and this is alarming, Bastareche said.
Only Libacao, New Washington and Buruanga have no reported HIV case yet. Kalibo has the highest number of AIDS cases with eight. Altavas, Banga and Batan have two each; Nabas, Malay, Numancia, Lezo, and Ibajay, one each.
Kalibo also has 18 asymptomatic HIV cases; Malay — including Boracay Island — 16; Makato, four; Ibajay and Altavas, two each.
Male-to-male sex is the predominant mode of transmission, followed by male-to-female sex and sharing of infected needles. Most of the patients were 25 to 34 years old, and mostly males.
The DOH has designated the Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao, Iloilo City as HIV/AIDS treatment hub in Western Visayas, and the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital here as satellite treatment hub.
Bastareche urged the public to learn more about HIV/AIDS, how it is transmitted, how to avoid contraction, and how to prevent its spread.
Since 2001 the Butterfly Brigade has been advocating zero new HIV infections, zero stigma and zero discrimination.
It is reaching out to schools and communities by having trained peer educators hold basic information campaigns on HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infection. (Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
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