BY: RACHELLE M. NESSIA
CEBU, May 15 (PIA) --- Health officials here have described the increasing number of HIV cases in the region as “fast and furious.”
Records from the Department of Health (DOH-7) show that Central Visayas accounts for 17% of the total new HIV cases detected nationwide for the month of March this year.
There were 498 new HIV cases recorded nationwide in March this year.
From January to March 2014, there were 1,432 new HIV cases recorded in the country.
In Central Visayas, 133 asymptomatic cases and four AIDS cases were recorded from January to March 2014.
This is 35% higher compared to the number of cases detected in the same period last year, according to DOH-7 HIV/AIDS Nurse Coordinator Boel Espinas,
“Asymptomatic is that stage where there are no symptoms yet but the person has been tested positive,” explained Espinas during yesterday’s Kapihan.
Almost 90% of the cases in Region 7 are in Cebu province, he said.
In Cebu City, there has been 1,079 total HIV cases reported since 1987 up to the present.
The spurt in the cases in Cebu City was noted starting 2010.
“Since 1989 to 2004, the cases detected have been low and slow. But for 2005 until 2009, the number of HIV cases started growing, and in 2010 until now, it’s been fast and furious,” said Dr. Ma. Chona Loma of the Cebu City Health Office.
Loma said as young as 15 year olds have been tested positive for HIV in Cebu City.
Dr. Abelardo Alera, HIV/AIDS physician of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), said the jump in cases can also be attributed to the increased number of people submitting themselves for testing.
The health officials stressed the importance of early detection and for more people to get tested for HIV and AIDS.
“There is a wrong notion that HIV is limited only to gays, but HIV can infect anyone. We need to get more people tested,” said Dr. Alera.
He assured that testing is confidential and lasts for one day, while results are released within one to two weeks.
Most vulnerable to HIV are those who engage in unsafe sex and sharing infected needles, said Gerson See of Cebu Plus, a non-government organization helping people with AIDS in Cebu.
“Testing is free and it’s confidential. No one else aside from the patient and the physicians know about the result,” said See.
There are a total of five testing facilities that conduct free HIV testing in Region 7, namely, the two HIV treatment hubs in Central Visayas which are VSMMC in Cebu City and Tagbilaran City Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Medical Hospital in Bohol, and the social hygiene clinics in Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Mandaue City.
“Danao City and Dumaguete City are starting to set up their own social hygiene clinics also,” said Espinas.
Cebu Plus is also deploying three mobile vans that hold free mobile HIV testing.
“We’re doing this for those who don’t have the luxury of time to go to the social hygiene clinics, so we provide free HIV testing at their doorstep,” said See. (RMN/PIA Cebu)