HUMAN Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) cases in the Philippines had recently seen an alarming growth of 500% among individuals aging 15 to 25-year-old.
Due to frightening high records, the Department of Health (DOH) urged the authorities to make this as a National Public Health Emergency.
For January to March this year, some 57 newly diagnosed HIV cases has been recorded. Because this, DOH claimed that this recorded number had ranked the Philippines as the highest to have HIV cases within the Western Pacific Region.
This recorded case is more than twice the rate that’s been recorded in 2014 which is 21 cases per day.
Courtesy: Department of Health
Meanwhile, the youngest diagnosed in the country was a 12-year-old residing in Palawan and in 2024 alone, the Philippines have logged a total of 215,000 individuals living.
Despite the raising case, Department of Health encouraged the Filipinos to take an HIV test.
Self-test kits are also available in the country and other further services such as counsellings can also be availed, provided non-goverment organization, Love Yourself Inc.
Meanwhile, those who are living with HIV are encouraged t consult medical professionals and take the antiretroviral therapy. This therapy is assured to be covered by PhilHealth insurance.
