January DOH Report: 1,249

newly-confirmed HIV cases nationwide

Following a recent meeting with representatives from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS Philippines (UNAIDS Philippines), Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, according to a city government release, signed a letter of commitment to an initiative that aims to end the AIDS epidemic by next year,
The goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by next year is a more ambitious campaign than those overseas, such as in the United States, which, as US President Donald Trump laid out in his previous State of the Union Address, the American government is aiming for an end within 10 years.
Based on information provided by the Federal HIV/AIDS Web Council, the plan looks to reduce new HIV infections in the US by 75 percent in five years and by 90 percent by 2030.
According to UNAIDS Philippines country director, Dr. Louie Ocampo, the city has recorded 520 cases of HIV and AIDS between 1986 and April of this year.
Earlier this year, the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital treatment hub in Bacolod City reported a total of 48 new HIV cases, along with six deaths, recorded between January and February this year.
The 48 cases marks a 41 percent increase from the same period last year.
In addition, according to a January 2019 Department of Health report, there were a total 1,249 newly-confirmed HIV cases across the country, with the median age of patients being 27 years old.
The report also found 98 percent of cases were sexually transmitted, with 62 percent comprised of patients engaged solely in male-to-male contact and another 25 percent engaged in sexual contact with both males and females./WDJ