HIV cases still rising among OFWs

 MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday said there has been a slow growth of cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).                                                       

OFWs might not be in the limelight now but it does not mean that the problem is no longer there. HIV among the migrant population is still growing, said Dr. Gerard Belimac, program manager of the DOH’s National AIDS / Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Prevention and Control Program.

Data from the DOH’s National Epidemiology Center showed that from January to May this year, a total of 61 OFWs were found HIV-positive. This makes up nine percent of the 700 HIV/AIDS cases registered this year.                                       

For the month of May, 153 new HIV cases were reported.

The records also showed that since 1984, some 5,124 HIV infection cases have been recorded in the country, 841 of which progressed into Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).                                                                

Belimac said migrant workers are vulnerable to infection because of risky practices and lack of information on the transmission of the HIV virus.

When they go back home there is no way of doing HIV testing because we are espousing voluntary testing. They unknowingly bring the virus home and pass it to their partners, he said. So we cannot disregard the problem of HIV (among OFWs) because it keeps on increasing.

In 2007, there had been a rapid increase of HIV cases in the country because of unsafe sexual practices of men who have intercourse with men.

This year, new cases were monitored among users of injectable drugs in Cebu.