Get tested for HIV/AIDS, DOH advises those at risk

MANILA, Philippines – Alarmed over the rising number of HIV/AIDS cases in the country, the health department on Tuesday, August 28, called on those at risk to have themselves tested for the disease. 

Dr Gerald Belimac, program manager of the DOH’s National AIDS/Sexuality Transmitted Infection Prevention and Control Program, said that while many people now get themselves tested for HIV due to heightened awareness about the disease, many others who are at risk shun these tests.

Halting and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015 is Goal 6 of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals. 

“The challenge today why we cannot meet that is we still have a small number of people undergoing HIV testing. We should improve the numbers,” Belimac said.  

“This is why we are continuously encouraging the Filipinos, particularly those who have risk of having unprotected sex with other men, to come out in the open and undergo HIV testing,” he said.

Therapy available

At risk of getting infected are those with partners who are infected, men who have unprotected sex with men and those who engage in unprotected heterosexual sex.

But Belimac said the next problem is when those who tested positive of the AIDS virus refuse to avail of the free anti-retroviral therapy (ARV) from the DOH.

Belimac gave assurances that there is enough supply of ARV especially since the price for the drug used in this therapy is going down. It now only costs US$100 to treat a patient for a year.

He, however, underscored the need for patients to be physically and mentally prepared for ARV because this must be taken for life. 

Belimac said stigma is still the primary reason why infected individuals disappear after diagnosis. 

“The fear of being discovered that they are infected because people will give meaning to their infection. Bading yan. (People will think they are gay.) Their sexuality will be discovered. Another reason is denial. They are not ready to accept they are infected already with HIV,” Belimac said.

From 1984 to June 2012, the DOH recorded a total of 9,964 HIV cases including 1,061 AIDS and 353 deaths.

And as of March 2012, a total of 2,275 cases are under ARV treatment. – Rappler.com