During a recent consultative meeting focused on responsible parenting and reproductive health, the Aklan Provincial Health Office revealed all 17 of the province’s municipalities have at least one reported case of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

As of May 2018, there are a total of 165 reported cases of HIV/AIDS in the province. Kalibo, the province’s capital, has the most reported cases with 48; followed by Malay, which includes currently-shuttered tourist destination Boracay, with 35.

The department’s data also revealed 95 percent of patients are male, with 51 percent of cases transmitted through homosexual intercourse.

There were also a reported four HIV/AIDS-related deaths in the province last year.

Last May, the Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office gave a briefing on dengue, rabies, and HIV at the Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City, where Provincial HIV Coordinator Josephine Nonato provided updates on the HIV situation in the province.

According to records at the time, there were reportedly over 600 Negros Occidental residents currently living with HIV or AIDS./WDJ