48 in CV receiving medication for AIDS

CEBU, Philippines - A total of 48 individuals infected with Human Immuno Virus (HIV) leading to Acute Immunity Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in Central Visayas are currently receiving free anti-retroviral treatment (ART) from government.

Department of Health Regional Director Asuncion Anden said the treatment is available at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center. The patients are given two tablets per day, which costs P1,500 to P3,000 a month.

From 1984 to 2012, there are 488 individuals found to have HIV in Central Visayas, but only 48 patients are undergoing the anti-retroviral treatment.

Those with HIV are vulnerable to infections or illnesses called "opportunistic infections." The infections or illnesses are called such because they take advantage of the weakening of the immune system. Tuberculosis and other pulmonary diseases are the most common opportunistic infections that hit an HIV patient.

Based on World Health Organization (WHO) standards, an HIV-infected individual should be placed on ART if his CD4 count, a measure of immune system strength, goes below 300 cells/mm3.

DOH said HIV-infected individuals need to visit treatment facilities religiously every six months so they can be closely monitored.

Based on DOH's Philippines HIV and AIDS Registry, 212 new cases of HIV, including four AIDS cases, were recorded in January 2012. One of the four AIDS cases was confirmed to be a seven-year-old boy who contracted the virus while he was in his mother's womb. The boy has died.

Of the 8,576 cases recorded accross the country from 1984 to 2012, at least 342 have died.

A total of 7,854 got infected through sexual contact while 268 were through needle sharing among injecting drug users. Mother-to-child transmission accounted for 56 cases while blood transfusion for 20 cases.

Yesterday, DOH commemorated the 29th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial (IACM) activity in the Municipality of Alcantara.

Anden said the candle lighting is an annual activity spearheaded by the City and Municipal Health Office to commemorate the lost lives of those people who died of AIDS.

It is also a support of those individuals who suffer from HIV, and an awakening for the communities to move against HIV and AIDS, she added.

This year's celebration theme is "Promoting Health and Dignity Together."

According to Anden, the theme is a people-centered and a human-based approach, which is why it seeks to promote awareness on HIV and to promote respect for the human rights of people living with HIV.

Anden shared the method of prevention and control against HIV/AIDS through abstinence, be faithful, condom use, don't use drugs, and Education or ABCDE.

Anyone can acquire the HIV through receiving infected blood and blood products in a transfusion, and by sharing injecting equipment. A woman with HIV can also pass the virus to her child during pregnancy, delivery or breastfeeding and unprotected penetrative sexual intercourse, Anden said.

Started in 1983, the Day is considered the world's oldest and largest grassroots mobilization campaigns for HIV awareness by over 1,200 community organizations in over a hundred countries. – (FREEMAN)