Manila holds mass HIV testing

MANILA, Philippines - The city government of Manila held a mass testing for HIV at a medical fair in Tondo yesterday.

“I am alarmed over reports that HIV-AIDS cases have been spreading in the country, and it’s even in a manner described by health authorities as fast and furious,” Mayor Joseph Estrada said.

He said the government is offering free HIV testing and counseling to residents.

The fair, called “Kalinga ni Erap 2, Fast and Furious,” also provided other health care services for residents who went to the Tondo Sports Complex.

HIV testing costs around P1,500 in private hospitals and clinics, but is provided free to Manila residents, Estrada said.

He said HIV tests results are kept confidential.

Department of Health (DOH) statistics showed more than 80 percent of 30,356 HIV infections recorded from 1984 to 2015 were reported in the last five years.

The DOH also noted that 650 of these were new cases reported in December 2015 alone.

Health officials project that the number of HIV infections will reach 133,000 by 2022.

The DOH also observed that many of the new HIV patients were teenagers, some as young as 15.

“The statistics are disturbing. The number of HIV infections in the country continues to climb. This is a major health concern not only for the government but also for every Filipino, young and adult,” Estrada said.

The city government has been offering free HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B testing at community health centers and six city-run hospitals.