MindanaoToday.com | ‘Safe sex’ echoed as HIV cases in Northern Mindanao rise to 3k-mark
By: Franck Dick Rosete
During the observance of World AIDS Day on December 1, the Department of Health-Northern Mindanao (DOH-10) reiterated that “safe sex” practices remain one of the most effective ways to prevent infections from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
DOH-10 Infectious Diseases Cluster Head Dr. Wellaflor Kindom-Brito explained that HIV status will remain confidential, and the only person who can divulge the said information is the person infected by the virus. Hence, safe sex practices are vital.
“At the end of the day, we are all accountable for our own health. So, have yourselves protected,” Brito stressed during a press conference on Friday.
The health official said the DOH-10 recorded 436 newly-confirmed HIV cases in the region from January to August this year, bringing the cumulative total to 3,095 since its first detection in Northern Mindanao in 1991. This city has the highest HIV cases, with over 1,000, followed by Bukidnon with over 500 cases.
Of the said total cases, 214 HIV-related deaths were recorded, of which 30 were recorded from January to August this year.
Northern Mindanao ranked sixth among regions in the country that have the highest HIV cases in May 2023, according to the DOH Epidemiology Bureau’s HIV/AIDS and ART Registry of the Philippines.
The National Capital Region ranked first with 290 cases, followed by Calabarzon (213 cases), Central Luzon (149 cases), Central Visayas (101 cases), Davao Region (98 cases), and Western Visayas (97 cases).
Brito shared on Friday that Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV can now be obtained at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) in this city. The said DOH Region 10-run hospital started dispensing PrEP in March this year.
PrEP, she said, is given to non-HIV-infected individuals, but with risky behavior for them not to get infected with the virus. There are also criteria for a person to be eligible for the said prophylaxis.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PrEP “reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99%.” It also “reduces the risk of getting HIV from injection drug use by at least 74%,” adding that it is less effective when not taken as prescribed.
Despite this, the health official still reiterated safe sex practices, as people taking PrEP are not safe from other sexually transmitted infections.
An important fact was stressed by Brito: once a person is infected with HIV, it will last forever. However, it can be treated using treatment drugs.
If people living with HIV are religiously taking their medicines, it would come to a point where the viral load would reduce and become untransmittable. This means that HIV-infected individuals, as Brito explained, are no longer contagious, but they are still not allowed to donate blood.
“If we know people who are in doubt or afraid because they feel that it’s the end of their lives already, then let’s remind them that our medicines and our treatment for HIV are actually effective,” Brito said in a mix of English and vernacular.
HIV treatment drugs in the region can be obtained from five treatment hubs. These include the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) in this city, Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. Medical Center in Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon Provincial Medical Center in Malaybalay City, Maramag Rural Health Unit, both from Bukidnon, and the Adventist Medical Center-Iligan
The DOH-10 is planning to expand the treatment hubs and confirmatory sites in the region, saying that there is an additional hub in Valencia City in Bukidnon this year. It also targets treatment hubs in Lanao del Norte, Camiguin, and Talakag town in Bukidnon.
The state health department, Brito said, is also ensuring communication between the regional offices in order not to run out of medicines for people living with HIV.
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