4 more HIV/AIDS cases recorded here

There are four new cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome recorded here this year, according to the Cebu City Health Department.

STD Detection Center chief, Dr. Ilya Abellanosa, of the CCHD, in an interview with The FREEMAN confirmed that there are four more cases of people living with AIDS here in Cebu, bringing the figure to 68 from 1989 to the present.

Abellanosa said that 19 of these cases are females, which underscores that more males are afflicted with the ailment.

Of the four new cases, it was learned from Abellanosa that two are overseas contract workers. The other two contracted the disease possibly through the sharing of needles or for having multiple sex partners.

"They may have acquired the disease through sharing of needles or sleeping with different partners. It is possible that their partners when they were still abroad passed on to them the virus as OFWs are most prone to this disease," she said.

There are over 116 victims of HIV/AIDS in the Visayas region from 1992-2005 according to the recent data of the AIDS-Free Philippines.

AIDS-Free Philippines president Dr. Rene Josef Bullecer said that of the given figure, 68 cases are from Cebu. Thirty-two victims had already succumbed to the disease. The latest of which was a 32-year-old housewife who contracted the virus from her husband who worked as a seaman overseas.

Bullecer said that the data they have gathered only cover walk-in patients of AFP. This means that there could be plenty out there who could be positive of the ailment, but may not have realized such or have not consulted with them.

"There are those that approach us and seek for our help, even in the provision of medicines," he said.

He added that the figures, however, are not that alarming but must need extra attention from local government officials to prevent further increase in cases.

He said that so far, the local government has done a sentinel surveillance of all commercial sex workers but still needs more effort because there are the possibilities that they would lose track of these workers.

"We can't put them in quarantine or what and we can't even separate them from others because our law states that AIDS victims should be given the chance to live a normal life," he pointed out.

Further, Bullecer said that as stated in RA 8504 or the Philippine Aids Act, AIDS patients are given their right to privacy. This shall extend to every person suspected or known infected with HIV/AIDS. This means they are entitled to exercise their rights and civil liberties. - Jasmin R. Uy