Philippines Has Highest HIV Infection Rate In Asia-Pacific, UN Report Says

The Philippine Department of Health is sounding the alarm about the Human Immunodeficiency Virus epidemic in the country. In a recent report of the United Nations AIDS Program, the country registered the highest rate of HIV infection in the Asia-Pacific region. In a span of 6 years, the number of new infections increased by 140%, from 4,300 cases in 2010, to a whopping 10,500 cases by the end of 2016.

According to a Reuters report, the health department reported a record high of over 1,000 new cases in May 2017 alone. This is the highest monthly incidence reported since the department started documenting HIV cases in the country.

UNAIDS Report Shows Populations At Risk

Based on the UNAIDS data, the population that is mostly at risk with new infections are males, between the ages of 15 – 49 years of age. This also reflects what some non-profit organizations working in health have observed – at high risk are young males who have sex with other males.

According to an Interaksyon report, the Philippines has managed to control the rate of infection among female sex workers, but with the emergence of new high risk populations, the country needs to re-focus its attention. Complicating the issue is the lack of awareness of young males about HIV, its transmission and its symptoms.

UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Asia-Pacific director Eamonn Murphy says that the Philippines “has a small window of opportunity to act now and stop a major HIV epidemic from taking hold.” He adds, “If HIV programming is redirected to focus on the people most at risk and where they are located, I’m sure the country can not only return to a stable situation but even end the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.”

Government Response: Step Up Provision Of Services

In response to this epidemic, the department aims to expand its HIV services especially targeting high-risk populations by opening clinics which are easily accessible and offer services such education, confidential HIV testing, laboratory tests and anti-retroviral treatment.

According to the department, the country is also part of the pilot study that offers anti-HIV tablets to gays and transgender women. The study which lasts for two years will take a look at how effective it is in preventing HIV infection.