Iloilo tops in HIV cases, Bacolod 2nd in W. Visayas

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Iloilo City has the most number of cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in Western Visayas.

Of the total 807 cumulative cases from 1984 to February 2015, Iloilo City topped the list with 220 cases followed by Bacolod City with 160, a report from the Department of Health-6 showed.

The same report also showed that Negros Occidental has 145 cases; Iloilo province – 135; Capiz – 54; Aklan – 51; Antique – 28; and Guimaras with 14 cases.

Christine Mosqueda, regional STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) nurse coordinator, said the latest data of the DOH-6 was for the month of February of this year.

She said that a total of 43 HIV cases were reported in the region from January to February this year – with 25 cases in January and 18 in February.

Males

All of the 43 cases were males – no females, she said, adding that 39 cases were asymptomatic, while 4 were Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome cases.

DOH-6 said that the most vulnerable ages are the youth (from 15 to 24 years old) and young professionals (from 25 to 35 years old).

DOH-6 said that in February 2015, every 36 hours, or a day and a half, a person is diagnosed with HIV in Western Visayas.

In 2014, a total of 24 fatalities were recorded in the region – 10 of whom were in Iloilo; 5 – Iloilo City; 3 – Negros Occidental; 2 each – Guimaras and Antique; and 1 each for Bacolod City and Aklan.

Of the total cumulative cases in the region, most of the cases were through homosexual contact with 323; heterosexual – 243; and bisexual – 234.

In the country, a total of 1,182 HIV cases – with 31 fatalities – were reported in January to February 2015.

For his part, Dr Julius Drilon, chief of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod, gave assurances there is a department here tasked to take care of the HIV cases in the city and the province.

Meanwhile, DOH-6 reported that “one person tested positive at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in the region.”

DOH-6, however, refused to disclose further information about the patient. – Rappler.com

HIV blood collection from Shutterstock