SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go called for a multidisciplinary approach to address the rising cases of HIV/AIDS in the country.
Go, the senate committee chair on health, stressed the need to strengthen information and educational campaigns to slow down if not combat HIV/AIDS cases.
“Disiplina talaga ang kailangan dito, ito yung bagay na masyadong tinatago ng kahit sinuman,” Go said.
“Importante dito ay education campaign, paalalahanan natin to observe safe sex, wag lang po basta-basta at dapat multi-disciplinary ang ating approach,” he added.
According to him, the issue has to be addressed as a “health problem” that falls under Department of Health (DOH) programs.
“Matagal na po ito, dito papasok ang mga programa ng DOH, kasama rito ang mga regional specialty centers, lalo na ang mga infectious diseases,” Go said.
Go added that HIV/AIDS must be considered a behavioral matter that needs intervention from schools and even in the homes.
He then urged the public not to hesitate to ask for assistance from Malasakit centers. The public can also visit super health centers as it is designed to offer primary care and consultation for early detection of disease including HIV.
The senator made the statement to the media on Friday, Nov. 17, during his visit to the fire victims in Barangay Tomas Monteverde Sr. in Agdao.
HIV cases rising in younger generation
The Department of Health (DOH) recorded an average of 50 new daily cases of HIV/AIDS, which doubled the 22 daily case rate in 2022.
DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said HIV is prevalent among younger generations, particularly from the age group 15-24 years old.
Data from the HIV/AIDS and ART Registry of the Philippines as of June 2023 reported 47 percent of the new cases or 466 are HIV-positive youths from the age group. 94 percent (437) are male, while 6% (29) are female.
According to the data, 463 are contracted from sexual contact, wherein 354 are males who had a sex history with the same sex, 56 through sex with both males and females, and 53 from male-female sex.
The data further recorded one (<1%) contracted through shared infected needles, and two had no information on the mode of transmission.
