December 1 is World AIDS Day, the day the World Health Organization designated the day for raising awareness on the disease, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS and the virus that causes it, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). All over the world, events such vigils, candle-lighting as well as public fora were conducted to spread the word about AIDS and how to prevent it.
Prevention is Key; Access To Treatment Is Important
As with any other disease, prevention is key. This year’s theme focuses on just that, with a campaign titled Hands Up for #HIVPrevention.” According to the UNAIDS website, governments all over the world through the UN have committed to put an end to the AIDS epidemic by the year 2030, as encapsuled in the Sustainable Development Goals.
The UNAIDS statistics show that 78 million people in the world are HIV-infected and about 35 million have already died because of complications due to AIDS. Through a program called Fast-Track, countries are already providing better access to treatment as well as eliminating transmission of the virus from pregnant mothers to their babies.
Youth At Risk
In the Philippines, the National Youth Commission (NYC) recently noted that most of the new cases reported in the country are usually young people, thus citing that the youth are mostly at risk of this disease that is already rising at epidemic proportions.
In an interview with ABS-CBN, NYC Commissioner Aiza Seguerra cited data from the Department of Health (DOH) which reflects that 29 Filipinos get HIV everyday. And of the 29 new cases, 19 of these are between the ages of 15 to 25 years. As of October 2016, a total of 38,114 cases are already on record.
According to the World Health Organization, proper sex education of young people and access to protection (such as condoms) can be considered causes of the rise of new cases in the Philippines. Prevention, therefore has more to do with being more open to young people about sex and its consequences, as stated by DOH Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial.
MMK features a story about HIV survivors with Coleen Garcia and Xian Lim. Watch out for Pilipinas Popcorn’s live blog on Friday, December 3.
Featured Photo Source: Unsplash
Like PilipinasPopcorn on Facebook for more updates. To send feedback or contribute your stories, email editor@pilipinaspopcorn.com.