More Pinoys get HIV through paid sex

MANILA, Philippines - More Filipinos are being infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through paid sex.

Based on the Department of Health (DOH)’s Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry’s January 2015 report, 91 individuals recently acquired HIV after engaging in “transactional sex.”

The report indicated that 50 individuals or 55 percent of the new cases paid for sex, while 33 individuals or 36 percent accepted payment for sex. The remaining eight individuals or nine percent engaged in both.

Of the total number, 83 people or 91 percent of the cases were males and eight were females.

Since DOH began the official evaluation of people who engaged in transactional sex in 2012 up to present, there have been 1,701 recorded cases of HIV. About 55 percent acquired HIV after engaging in paid sex, while 30 percent accepted payment for sex. The remaining 15 percent both paid and accepted payment for sex.

A total of 1,617 or 95 percent of HIV cases among people who engage in transactional sex are males, while the remaining are females.

The United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) attributed low condom use as one of the main reasons for the “fast and furious” rise of HIV cases in the country.

For this reason, people living with HIV (PLHIV) renewed calls for the immediate adoption of sex education in schools to help combat the spread of HIV through safe sexual practices. It is only through proper sex education that people learn how to practice safe sex and avoid acquiring HIV.

“What we have to do is to educate people properly. It has to start earlier. When it comes to health, education is very shallow. We don’t talk about consequences of sex in schools,” PLHIV advocate and writer Wanggo Gallaga said.