MANILA, Philippines - From an average of nine new cases of HIV/AIDS a day in 2012, the Department of Health (DOH) registered 12 new cases daily in January this year.
Health Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag said these 12 new cases daily are equivalent to 380 new cases reported to the DOH’s Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry in January 2013. Of these, 25 were already AIDS at the time of reporting.
“(This is) the most number of new cases per month since 1984 (when the registry started). The cumulative total is now at 12,082,” Tayag said.
The registry showed the 380 cases were 79 percent higher compared to the 212 cases recorded in January 2012. Eighty two percent of the cases involved males having sex with other males (MSM).
Tayag said they received information that MSM contact usually occurs at home. “They are not using protection. It’s bareback, no condom,” he described.
And despite the risk, those engaging in MSM are not keen on undergoing HIV testing because of the stigma and discrimination still associated with the disease.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/03/02/914843/doh-12-new-hiv/aids-cases-day
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