Isiniwalat ni infectious diseases expert Dr. Edsel Salvana na nasa mahigit 600% ang itinaas ng mga kaso ng HIV sa Pilipinas.
Sa kaniyang kolum sa Manila Bulletin, binanggit ni Salvana na tumaas sa isa ang Pilipinas sa “fastest growing HIV epidemics” sa mundo sa nakalipas na dekada.
“Between 2010 and 2021, the number of new local HIV cases in a year has grown by more than 600 percent even as new infections worldwide have gone down by 32 percent,” ani Salvana.
“After a significant drop in cases diagnosed during the Covid-19 pandemic, the numbers have alarmingly rebounded and have exceeded the pre-pandemic infection rate.”
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Mula sa isang kaso ng HIV sa bawat araw sa nakalipas ng 15 taon, nasa mahigit 50 na umano ang naitatalang bagong diagnose infections kada araw noong 2023.
“This does not include people living with HIV (PLHIV) who have not taken a test and remain undiagnosed even as the virus slowly destroys their immune system,” saad ni Salvana.
Kaya naman, para maging ligtas mula sa HIV, sinabi ni Salvana na ang pinakamainam na gawin ay ang maging “well-informed” at maintindihan kung paano maiwasan ito.
“An easy-to remember acronym has been the ‘ABCs’ of HIV prevention which stand for A – abstinence, B – be faithful, C – condoms. This has since been expanded to D – don’t do illicit drugs AND take your good drugs (ARTs prevent transmission) and E – education,” ani Salvana.
“A tonguein-cheek ‘F’ for ‘FrEP’ (PrEP actually) which stands for preexposure prophylaxis has also been added. PrEP is the newest way to prevent HIV. It entails taking two medications that are used in ART (antiretroviral therapy) in certain situations. Not everyone qualifies for PrEP but if taken properly with adequate medical supervision, it further decreases the risk of acquiring HIV by nearly 90 percent,” saad pa niya.
