HIV cases in Baguio increasing

BAGUIO City, Philippines – The local health office said Friday that the number of HIV patients treated in the city is increasing.

Dr. Ma. Lorena Santos, chairwoman of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center's HIV AND aids Core Team, said that there are now a total of 72 HIV cases recorded from 2006 until May of this year.

Santos said the youngest of the 79 patients is 19 years old and the oldest is 56 years old.

She said that 51 of the patients are males, 21 are females.

She added that of the 51 males, 40 are homosexuals, 8 are heterosexuals and 3 are bisexuals; and of the 21 females, 14 are heterosexual and one is bisexual.

Among the positive HIV patients, five are from Manila; 28 from Baguio City; one each from Abra, Pampanga, and Isabela; and five from Benguet.

Most of the patients are professionals, Santos added.

Increasing

The state-run hospital had three cases each in 2006 and 2007 and doubled in 2008 and 2009. Five patients were found HIV positive in 2010, also at the said hospital.

In 2011, the hospital recorded 16 HIV positive patients and 17 more are recorded in 2012.

Santos, meanwhile, said that the increasing number of HIV patients in the city is a positive development because it indicates that patients are now more open to physicians about their condition.

Santos said it is now easy for them to conduct counseling to HIV patients and provide them better access to the health benefits that the government is offering.

She said that the client–initiated counseling being pursued by the government will help patients slow down the progress of their illness towards full-blown AIDS.

The Department of Health is urging those with symptoms to see a doctor or go to state-run hospitals to be able to avail of free medicines, free laboratory tests, and other free health services being offered to HIV victims.