FOLLOWING the world’s struggle against COVID-19 which has killed 6.9 million people as of this month and counting, we will always associate the term pandemic exclusively with that deadly coronavirus that began obliterating large swathes of land in 2020 and is still very much with us today.
Lesser concern is now given to the other pandemic, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS, which, just like tuberculosis and malaria that still kill millions of people each year across multiple countries and regions, has been downgraded in public health terminology as just “epidemic” or “endemic diseases” although the disease still qualifies as a pandemic.
HIV is an infection that attacks the body’s immune system. It targets the body’s white blood cells, weakening the immune system and making it easier for tuberculosis, infections and some cancers to set in.
Sadly, there is a stigma attached to this disease, as HIV is spread from the body fluids of an infected person, including blood, breast milk, semen and vaginal fluids. It can also spread from a mother to her baby, but not by kisses, hugs or sharing food.
In the latest data released by the Department of Health- Epidemiology Bureau, the country posted the fastest-growing HIV epidemic in Asia and the Pacific region with a 418% increment in new infections between 2010 and 2022 and a 518% increase in AIDS-related deaths between the same period.
‘It is good that government and the private sector are seriously helping each other in combating HIV-AIDS, the public health menace that the United States hopes to eradicate by 2030.’
There are now an estimated 164,400 people living with HIV in the country and 24,400 new infections are estimated to be added in 2022 alone, and nearly half (47%) are young people between 15-24 years old. The daily average of new cases has spiked from one per day in 2008 to 49 per day in 2023.
Health authorities say sexual intercourse remains the predominant mode of transmission, accounting for 95 percent of cases in the Western Visayas region, for example. Male-to-male transmission constitutes 58 percent, emphasizing the vulnerability of the LGBTQ+ community.
The Department of Health (DOH) underscores the importance of safe sex practices, advocating the use of condoms and other contraceptives. Pre-exposure Prophylaxis is available across treatment hubs, rural health units, and health facilities. The department collaborates with private partners to provide self-test kits for HIV, targeting key areas.
However, challenges persist, especially among vulnerable groups, including men who have sex with men, transgender women, female sex workers, and individuals using injectable drugs.
To emphasize the global initiative aimed at increasing awareness about the AIDS pandemic stemming from HIV infection, World AIDS Day is observed on December 1 of every year. It was in 1988 when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it an official global health observance.
On this day, people all over the globe led by physicians, nurses, academicians, students, health advocates, government officials, and media persons remember all those who lost their lives due to the disease. They also renew their resolve to support individuals living with HIV, aside from advocating for prevention, treatment and support services, especially in communities. This year’s observance has the theme “Let Communities Lead.”
To help local media outlets produce “truthful, empowering and human rights-based” reporting on HIV-AIDS, private advocacy groups have launched a media guide against sensationalized reporting on the disease that tends to bolster the stigma attached to AIDS.
The media guide is part of the larger “Visibility is Key” campaign, together with a series of videos featuring Filipino HIV patients from different backgrounds.
“The campaign seeks to break down barriers by putting a spotlight on the lives of courageous individuals who have been living with HIV and leading the country’s HIV response,” said Dr. Louie Ocampo, Country Director of UNAIDS Philippines.
“Persons living with HIV can lead healthy and happy lives and can contribute to nation-building. Highlighting their stories will dispel misconceptions, foster empathy, and create an environment of acceptance,” he added.
Mara Quesada, Executive Director of Action for Health Initiatives, Inc., said that it will be difficult to address the rising incidence of HIV in the country without the meaningful participation of affected communities in decision-making processes, including in development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of HIV programs and services.
It is good that the government and the private sector are seriously helping each other in combating HIV-AIDS, the public health menace that the United States hopes to eradicate by 2030. With everyone’s cooperation and involvement, the Philippines may also aspire to the same goal.
