DAVAO CITY, Dec 1 (PIA) – The number
of cases of HIV-AIDS or the Human Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome-Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome in Davao Region is increasing at an alarming rate as more
people access the services of the City Health Office on the pandemic.
Dr. Jordana Ramiterre, chief of
Davao CHO’s Reproductive Health and Wellness Center, revealed that 1,014
persons were accounted as afflicted with HIV-AIDS in Davao City as of September
this year.
In Davao Region, there were a total
of 1,220 persons afflicted with the illness.
Ramiterre said the number of
recorded cases comprises only of people tested by the CHO.
“The number may multiply by five or
six because it takes time for the symptoms to manifest to patients before they
avail of our services,” Ramiterre said during today’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM
City Davao in time for the commemoration of the World AIDS Day (Dec. 1).
She said that Davao Region
contributes six to eight percent to the national figure where 15 cases of
HIV-AIDS are reported per day.
Ramiterre also revealed that 95% of
the HIV-AIDS cases in the city is attributed to men having sex with men, where
infection is aggravated by unprotected sexual encounter.
“People must be educated all the
time on HIV-AIDS,” she said.
Ramiterre encouraged patients to
have a Philippine Health Insurance Corporation enrollment to ensure treatment
with the provision of antiretroviral drugs.
She said their package of services
also ranges from information on healthy lifestyle, nutrition to lifetime
counseling on safe sex. (PIA-11/Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)
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