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[av_heading heading=’Advocate: End drugs, lower HIV infection’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
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Wednesday, May 10, 2017
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BORACAY – The campaign against illegal drugs also prevents the spread of HIV, according to an HIV-positive athlete.
Drug dependents are at high risk of contracting the virus, said the cyclist Faustine Luell Angeles Jr., founder of Pedal for HIV, a group comprising young athletes promoting HIV awareness through sports.
A person under the influence of drugs tends to “become more promiscuous” and “not use protection” during sex, Angeles said.
He also warned that HIV may be transmitted by “sharing of syringes during drug use.”
Some people living with HIV in the Philippines are drug dependents, and their treatment fails because they do not faithfully take the required medication, he said.
“Their immune system weakens very fast due to drug use, and they are more likely to transmit the virus,” said Angeles.
“If we can stop drugs, definitely, new HIV infections can also be minimized,” he stressed.
There are 41,315 HIV cases in the Philippines from 1984 to February this year, Angeles said, citing data from the National Epidemiology Bureau of the Department of Health. (PNA)
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