HIV is a virus that attacks the human immune system -- the body's natural defense system. White blood cells are an important part of the immune system. Without a strong immune system, the body has trouble fighting off disease.
Both the virus and the infection it causes are called HIV. If left untreated, HIV can lead to the disease acquired immune deficiency syndrome or AIDS.
According to the latest report of the HIV/AIDS Registry of the Philippines (HARP)-Department Health (DOH) covering the period from January 1984 to May 2016, the region with the most number of reported HIV cases was NCR with 14,718 cases, representing 43 percent of the nationwide total of 33,158 cases.
The NCR was followed by Region IV-A or Calabarzon with 4,717 cases (14%); Region VII or Central Visayas with 3,066 cases (9 percent); Region III or Central Luzon, 2,830 cases (8%); and Region XI or Davao Region, 2,025 cases (6%).
Seventeen percent or 5,656 cases were reported from the rest of the country, while 1,146 cases or 3 percent had no data on region.
Of the 2,547 females reported with HIV, 647 (25 percent) were from NCR; 442 (17 percent) from Region III; 270 (10 percent) from Region VII; 235 (9 percent) from Region IV-A; and 980 (38 percent) from other regions.
The regions with the most number of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) reported to the HARP with HIV was also NCR with 1,521 cases, followed by Region IV-A with 706 cases, and Region III with 443 cases.
Men-having-sex with men (MSM) was the predominant mode of transmission (25,657 cases or 81 percent). It was followed by male-female sex (4,136 cases or 13 percent), and sharing of infected needles (1,437 cases or 5 percent).
More than half (13,771 or 54 percent) of cases among MSM belonged to the 25-34 years age group while 7,571 (30 percent) were youths 15-24 years old.
Among females, male-female sex was the most common mode of transmission (2,349 cases or 91 percent), followed by sharing of infected needles (90 cases or 4 percent).
A total of 84 children (less than 10 years old) and seven adolescents (10-19 years old) were reported to have acquired HIV through mother-to-child transmission.
For the month of May 2016 alone, there were a total of 739 cases reported in the country, wherein 303 cases or 41 percent were from NCR.
There were 52 reported deaths for the month of May 2016 -- 50 males and two females.
Twenty-nine or 56 percent of the reported deaths belonged to the 25-34 years age group, 12 were in the 35-49 years age group, 10 were youths aged 15-24 years and one belonged to the 50-year-old and above age group.
All were infected through sexual contact (five male-female sex, 28 male-male sex, 19 sex with both males and females).
A total of 1,759 deaths were reported from January 1984 to May 2016. Of these, 87 percent (1,534) were males.
Of the reported deaths, almost half (829 or 47 percent) belonged to 25-34 years age group, 524 (30 percent) were in 35-49 years age group, while 243 (14 percent) were youths aged 15-24 years.
Sexual contact (95 percent) was the most common mode of HIV transmission (457 male-female sex, 783 male-male sex, 457 sex with both males and females.
There were 39 reported deaths involving Injecting Drug Use (IDU).
The DOH, in its continuous battle to stop HIV transmissions, is encouraging the public to avail of its free counselling and testing in its 47 treatment hubs/satellite centers located in the different regions of the country, in partnership with the local government units.
Some of the testing centers are the Klinika Bernardo in Quezon City, Manila Social Hygiene Clinic, and Marikina City Satellite Treatment Hubs.
In these treatment hubs/testing centers or nearest social hygiene clinics, those who are seeking treatment (if positive) and their CD4 (cluster of differentiation 4 or glycoprotein found on the immune cells) counts are examined to be falling low and indicates a need for it, Anti-Retroviral Therapy is also provided.
In May 2016, there were 503 patients who were newly-initiated on with Anti-Retroviral Therapy. This was 15 percent higher than the same period last year.
ARV is being provided depending on the CD4 count of the persons infected with HIV so that they can have the ability to cope with opportunistic infections such as pneumonia, etc.
Those with confirmed cases of HIV are also provided with proper counselling in terms of how they can strengthen their immune system through lifestyle modification and ensuring that they will not spread to others the HIV by teaching them how they can protect the people around them or their partners.
Those who have been tested “negative” are given proper advice such as abstaining from sex (if they can); be faithful to their partner; consistently use condom; do not use illegal drugs; and educate themselves.
The social hygiene clinics have been put up to bring the message that if a person is positive with HIV, "there is still hope and help is coming"; if negative, on the other hand, the message will be "there is a way to prevent it."
Found this article from this site:
http://interaksyon.com/article/130430/doh-ncr-accounts-for-most-number-of-hiv-cases-reported-since-1984
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