In Ilocos Sur, HIV cases rising
Dr. Carmeliza Singson, provincial health officer, said at least 12 Ilocos Sur residents, two of them Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW’s), were afflicted with HIV in 2013.
Singson said 175 cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) were recorded in Ilocos Sur in 2013 and 73 cases in 2011.
“We need to reactivate our council and intensify anti-AIDS campaign,” she said. Singson said the Provincial Health Office (PHO) has doubled its efforts in educating sex workers reminding them the need to undergo regular Pap smear examinations.
She added that 10 males and two females who were diagnosed with HIV exhibited variety of illnesses including two full-blown AIDS and two females who were diagnosed with HIV exhibited a variety of illness including two full–blown AIDS cases based on the HIV tests at Gabriela Silang General Hospital and St. James Hospital here.
“There is no known cure for HIV or AIDS but treatments such as an- retroviral drugs slow the progression of the illness,” she said.
Singson said the HIV virus destroys blood cells which are crucial to the normal function of the immune sys- tem which defends the body against ill- ness while AIDS occurs when a person’s immune system is damaged after years of attack by HIV.
The DOH official said that HIV is transmitted through penetrative anal or vaginal and oral sex including blood transfusion, the use of contaminated needles or sharing needles through drug injection and between mother and infant during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.
She noted, however, that HIV does not survive well outside the body so it cannot be transmitted through casual contact such as shaking hands, hugging or kissing while sweats, tears.
(BEN P. PACRIS)
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