16 new AIDS cases recorded in Cebu

There are 16 new cases of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome in Cebu from January to July this year, according to the data of the AIDS-Free Philippines or AFP.

AFP president Rene Josef Bullecer said that four of these additional cases are full-blown AIDS while the rest are only positive with the Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus.

Bullecer said most of the HIV cases are Overseas Filipino Workers with the youngest victim a 26-year old man. But he clarified that some of the victims came from nearby places such as Negros, Siquijor and Masbate.

However, Bullecer said that no dramatic increase in HIV cases has been recorded in the country because of the high literacy rate of Filipinos. Since 1984, Bullecer said the country has 2,680 HIV cases, 366 of which are the total number that has been added this year.

Bullecer said the data only covers walk-in patients of AFP and excludes those who have not consulted with them. "They are those who will approach us and sought for our help, even in the provision of medicines."

He added that the figures, however, were not alarming but that local government officials should do something to prevent these cases from increasing further.

So far, he said the local government has done surveillance of all sex workers in the city, but it still needs more effort because it is possible that it would lose track of them.

"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 said.

Bullecer said that as stated in Republic Act 8504, or the Philippine AIDS Act, AIDS patients are given their right to privacy and that the state shall extend protection to their rights and civil - Jasmin R. Uy/LPMliberties.