Few days before the commemoration of the International Aids Day on December 1, records from the Department of Health revealed that there are already 223 cases of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Western Visayas since its first case was recorded in 1994.

Charity Perea, regional STI coordinator of the DOH-Center for Health Development-6 during the press conference on World AIDS Day held November 23 at the Sarabia Hotel and Convention Center said that as of September this year, WV recorded 56 new cases, higher than the 47 total cases in 2011.

Of the recorded new cases, 19 are from Iloilo; Negros Occidental – 13; Capiz – 3; Aklan – 2; and one each from Antique and Guimaras.

Of the total 223 cases, 99 are from Iloilo with 20 deaths while there are 78 from Negros Occidental with 17 deaths; 25 from Aklan with five deaths; 12 from Capiz with two deaths; five from Antique with one death; and four from Guimaras with no death.

Perea, however, clarified that despite the increase in the number of persons living with HIV, this new cases should not alarm the public but instead, should encourage more people “at risk” to come out.

“With less discrimination from the public, more lives will be saved and more PLHIV would seek treatment,” she noted.

Meanwhile, Jake, a 26-year old Ilonggo registered nurse and diagnosed with HIV in 2010, said that instead of cursing his situation, he used it as an inspiration and a wake-up call to live his life better.

In 2008, Jake, a homosexual, went to Manila to work as a nurse but ended up working in a call center for nine months.

Feeling more liberated, Jake admitted that he engaged in various unprotected sexual activities.

After learning of his infection in June 2010, Jake said even some nurses like him, who are supposed to be knowledgeable of the situation, would not even come near him.

Feeling isolated, Jake said he decided to go back in Iloilo to continue living his life.

After his mother accidentally discovered his condition, he started to feel “isolated” even by his family members. But he said the support shown by his immediate family, especially his father, made him stronger.

“I felt safe, and he was there for me,” he said.

With his experiences, Jake decided to volunteer with the DOH to help spread the advocacy on HIV awareness.

“Depression was there, but for me, it was not very hard compared to other PLHIV who were even threatened by their family,” he narrated.

He said with education, “we could provide correct information to everybody and we could be able to help out PLHIV.”

“Education is our best weapon against HIV,” he added.

Two years have passed but Jake is lucky since he still does not need to take CD4 medication.

‘ENOUGH MEDICATION’

Dr. Ray Celis, HIV-AIDS Court Team (HACT) chairman, meanwhile, assured that the region has enough anti-retroviral drugs to last until 2015.

Celis said there are about 125 PLHIV availing free anti-retroviral drugs at the Western Visayas Medical Center.

He encouraged other PLHIV to continue going to the HACT center for their continued treatment.

WORLD AIDS DAY

There are already 34.2 million people around the globe with HIV and AIDS, 10,830 of them are in the Philippines.

Though no cure has been discovered yet against HIV and AIDS, Perea said that less public discrimination would make the goal of having “zero AIDS (acute immune-deficiency syndrome) related deaths, zero new HIV inspection and zero stigma and discrimination by 2015 is not impossible.

For this year’s WAD celebration, a city-wide distribution of information, education and communication (IEC) materials will be conducted. After a motorcade from Plaza Liberted in City Proper district, a special program on HIV awareness will also be conducted at Iloilo National High School on December 1, at 1:30 p.m. which will be attended by students from various city schools, non-government organization and other partners.*