SAN JOSE, Antique – Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections in Antique appear to be slowing down, according to the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU) of the Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas.
From January to September 2020, it recorded an average of just two infections per month – a sharp drop from last year’s total of 68 recorded cases which were 66 percent higher than 2018’s 41 cases.
“There is a slowdown this year not just because of the coronavirus pandemic but also because of our campaign in raising public awareness on HIV,” said Jerald Ray Tung, manager for the HIV and AIDS STI Control and Percentage Program in Antique.
He added: “We have available HIV testing in every municipality. We train Community-Based Screening (CBS) motivators, making it convenient sa mga pasyente nga gusto raad magpa-test. Pwede nanda ma-text ang mga CBS kun diin nanda gusto mag-meet para sa testing which is comfortable para kananda.”
Tung also clarified that an increase in HIV statistics does not necessarily mean the situation is getting worse.
“Sara nga indication nga-a nagtaas ang kaso is because manami ang kampanya sa HIV kag nagtaas ang awareness kang tawo,” he said.
The recent Dec. 1 was marked as World Aids Day. The theme was “Global Solidarity, Shared Responsibility”.
According to RESU, positive cases of HIV in Region 6 have reached 4,265. This is a cumulative number of cases recorded since 1984 when the first case was reported. (Antique PIO/PN)
