ILOILO – The municipalities of Oton and Pavia have the most number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections in the province, data from the Department Health (DOH) Region 6 covering the period from January 1986 to March 2019 showed.
HIV causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, a condition in the later stage of the infection in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive.
Oton had 49 cases while Pavia recorded 45.
HIV is contracted most commonly through unprotected sex (sex without a condom).
Rounding up the Top 10 Iloilo municipalities with high HIV-AIDS cases are the following: Pototan (36), Janiuay (29), Santa Barbara (29), Tigbauan (29), Miag-ao (28), Passi City (28), Cabatuan (26), and Barotac Nuevo (23).
Province-wide since 1986, DOH-6 recorded 687 cases as of March 2019.
In the case of Pavia,“Wala kami kabalo kon day sin-o ini because of confidentiality. Wala kami kabalo kon diin nga mga barangay, male or female,” said Dr. Joyous Jan Santos of the Municipal Health Office.
But citing “general statistics”, Santos said “daku nga percent sini are men having sex with men.”
To increase public awareness on HIV-AIDS, the Municipal Health Office is conducting forums, according to Santos.
“Gina-discuss naton kon ano ang HIV, kon paano ma-transmit and ano mga risk factors and signs and symptoms, kon ano obrahon if you know you are at risk,” said Santos.
As early as 2016, added Santos, the Municipal Health Office organized the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) community in Pavia and members are encouraged to attend the forums and take HIV test at the Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
By age group, DOH-6 data showed the following cases of infections in Iloilo:
* 25 to 34 years old – 321
* 15 to 24 years old – 232
* 35 to 49 years old – 117
* 50 years old and up – 16
* below 15 years old – 1
“If you know that you are at risk of contracting HIV, indi ka magduha-doha. Submit yourself for screening because the earlier nga mabal-an nga positive, the better ang chance mo nga ma-treat. Indi na paghulata nga ma-develop sang ginatawag nga AIDS na gid,” said Santos.
By taking HIV medicine (called antiretroviral therapy or ART), people with HIV can live long and healthy lives.
ART suppress the virus, prevent the spread of HIV, and delay or prevent the onset of AIDS.
Antiretroviral drugs are given free by the Department of Health to HIV-positive persons./PN
