14 new HIV cases in South Cotabato in last 3 weeks

MANILA, Philippines - Fourteen new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been recorded in South Cotabato in the last three weeks, a local health official said Friday.

South Cotabato provincial health officer Dr. Rogelio Aturdido Jr. said that the new cases were recorded in General Santos and Cotabato cities based on data from the Integrated Provincial Health Office's epidemiology and surveillance unit.

Aturdido said that the number may even increase in the coming weeks.

He said that there are now a total of 45 HIV cases in the province.

“We have 37 patients currently seeking treatment at the SPMC (Southern Philippines Medical Center) in Davao City,” the doctor said in a statement.

He said majority of the patients are "men having sex with men.”

He added that five of the victims have died in the last three years due to complications caused by the disease.

The doctor said that the victims are now undergoing maintenance or antiretroviral drug (ARV) treatment at the SPMC, which is the Department of Health’s (DOH) designated treatment hub for HIV/AIDS victims from southern and southwestern Mindanao, he said.

ARV drug treatment mainly stops the multiplication of the infected person’s viral load and eventually prevents them from further spreading the disease.

In some countries, the use of ARV drugs have helped effectively lower the incidence of HIV infection to about one percent and eventually stabilized the detected cases.

Aturdido said they are pushing for the creation of a special body that will spearhead efforts to curb the rising incidence of HIV in the area.