By CESAR JOLITO III

Alarmed by the rising number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections across Negros Island, the Bacolod City government has intensified its prevention and awareness efforts, starting with a focused campaign in Barangay Handumanan on July 18.

“Our goal is not only to raise awareness but to remove the stigma surrounding HIV and encourage early testing and treatment,” Executive Assistant Jonathan Diaz, who led the symposium in Handumanan, said.

The city government’s comprehensive strategies outlined in the symposium include:

* District-level awareness drives in all barangays, schools and community organizations

* Expanded testing facilities and services funded by an annual P500,000 prevention budget

* The creation of a dedicated HIV care hub to provide testing, treatment and counseling services

Barangay Handumanan officials, headed by Punong Barangay Febe Legaspi, vowed to replicate the initiative’s success by mobilizing health workers and youth advocates across Bacolod’s 61 barangays.

The campaign forms part of the city’s broader health agenda to curb HIV infections and strengthen its public health infrastructure.

Data from the Department of Health (DOH) earlier revealed that Bacolod logged 16 new HIV cases between January and February this year — making up 38 percent of the 42 infections reported across Negros Occidental and nearby provinces during the same period.

“The data from the DOH underscores the urgency of the city’s expanded prevention strategy,” Diaz said.

Health officials said the surge highlights the urgent need for a stronger, community-based HIV response./CJ, WDJ