DOH to promote use of condoms

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) will promote the use of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS despite opposition from the Catholic Church, an official said yesterday.

“The use of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS is different from their use for birth control,” Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde told a media briefing.

“The Church’s position is detrimental to public health,” Villaverde said.

Besides the use of condoms, which are 95 percent effective in preventing HIV/AIDS, the government will also encourage education on the topic and promote measures to guard against the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, the official said.

“Generally, the approach of the DOH in terms of HIV prevention is really through education and advocacy. Awareness and behavioral change are important,” he said in an interview after the closing of an international meeting on HIV prevention and AIDS treatment.

Villaverde did not say how condoms would be promoted in a country where all forms of artificial contraception are strongly opposed by the church.

Although rates of HIV/AIDS remain low in the Philippines, the level has recently gone up with an average of 29 cases detected each month in 2007 and 2008, compared with 20 cases a month in previous years.

Meanwhile, government leaders and HIV/AIDS experts from the Asia-Pacific region sought yesterday an increase in domestic spending for a more effective anti-HIV campaign and to avoid higher economic, public health and social costs required to treat infected individuals.

At the closing of the three-day 2nd Regional Consultative Meeting on Universal Access to HIV Prevention and AIDS Treatment, Care and Support in Low Prevalence Countries, leaders underscored the need for these nations not to let their guard down against the disease.

Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Ratu Epeli Nailatikau of the Fiji interim government said having “low prevalence” of HIV/AIDS cases is not a reason to be complacent.

“We should all aim at having no prevalence because that is the only time we can sit back and relax against HIV/AIDS,” Nailatikau said.

The Philippines is still considered a “low prevalence” country for HIV/AIDS because its national prevalence rate is less than 0.1 percent of the population.

In the 1980s, there were less than 10 cases reported annually to the DOH. But from 1990 to 1999, there was a steady increase in the number of cases, reaching some 40 annually in 1998 and 1999.

In 2006, the number of cases of HIV-positive MSM (men who have sex with men) reached more than 100 per year.

A total of 147 from 12 countries like Mongolia, Fiji, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Bhutan have attended the meeting.

During the meeting, participants acknowledged the need for policy and legislative reforms to better meet the challenges of HIV/AIDS. – Sheila Crisostomo