PALAWAN health officials report a disturbing trend as a 13-year old is diagnosed with HIV, marking the youngest recorded case of transmission in the province.
According to Palawan News, the latest data on HIV and AIDS cases in Palawan and Puerto Princesa were presented during the Kapihan sa PIA at SM City Puerto Princesa on March 19.
The report, presented by Regina Villapa, Director of the Social Hygiene Clinic at the City Health Office (CHO), and Ma. Charisma Deriada, Manager of the Amos Tara Community Center, revealed that as of March 18, 2025, individuals aged 0 to 14 in the province have tested positive for HIV.
Meanwhile, the 13-year old was alleged to have contracted the virus through sexual activity while the youngest— a newborn— was infected through mother and child transmission.
The CHO also reported that there was a steady increase in the number of patients with the disease in Palawan, with a total of 1,210 as of March 18. But they attributed this trend to the availability of free testing services, as well as medicines, treatments, and recovery plans.
Villapa also said that they were expecting the numbers to rise due to the continuous availability of resources.
“We’re trying to get a higher number of key population na mag-avail ng testing. We still have a long way to go,” she said
The Philippines has yet to meet the United Nations’ 95-95-95 targets set for 2030, which aim for 95% of key populations to be diagnosed or aware of their HIV status, 95% to receive treatment, and 95% to achieve viral suppression.
Villapa stressed that the stigma associated with HIV testing continues to be a significant challenge to prevention efforts, despite the protections provided by Republic Act 11166, which ensures anonymity for individuals seeking HIV-related care.
The Philippines first recorded its HIV case in 1984. Recently, the Philippines has reported a rapidly increasing cases of HIV in the country. According to a report by the Department of Health (DOH), the recorded cases of HIV in the Philippines are over 215,400 in 2024 alone, with a 543% increase in infection between 2010-2023.
Meanwhile, there are concerns about the potential surge of HIV cases worldwide due to the halting of US funding under President Donald Trump.
Also read: AIDS pandemic risks ‘resurging globally’ amid US funding halt: UN
