THE Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday urged Metro Manila mayors to take proactive measures to fight the HIV epidemic in the country.
Health Secretary Paulyn Jean B. Ubial said as of June 2017, about 65 percent of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the Philippines come from the National Capital Region (NCR) and its adjacent provinces.
Ubial said the DOH-Epidemiology Bureau (EB) revealed the number of PLHIV is projected to increase from an estimated 67,000 by the end of 2017, to 201,000 in 2025 if no drastic intervention is done at this time.
The picture of the present epidemic showed the majority of new infections are among males who had sex with males (MSM) and transgender women who had sex with males (TGW) aged 15 to 24 years old.
Ubial stressed the need for “proactive, coordinated and intensified prevention strategies” among MSM and TGW. During the meeting, she said it was imperative to institute timely interventions to address factors that contribute to the transmission of the infection in the population.
DOH data also revealed half of MSM and TGW start to have sex at 16 years old, and some start as early as 12 years old. However, intervention measures can only be made available and accessible when they are 18 years old, and their first HIV test happened later at around 22 years old. This is compounded by the findings on the initiation of treatment among people diagnosed with HIV which occurs much later at 28 years old.
Ubial pointed out that accelerating the response in NCR, as well as in other high-burden areas, will be critical in averting the HIV epidemic in the Philippines.
During the meeting, Metro Manila mayors and city representatives signed a commitment to fast-track the implementation of coordinated quality and high-impact HIV interventions in the region with an aim to increase public knowledge on HIV transmission, prevention and services among all Filipinos.
The health secretary also emphasized the need to prevent new HIV infections, especially among 15 to 24 years old; promote HIV testing among those practicing risky behaviors and their partners; treat all diagnosed with HIV; and eliminate the transmission of HIV from mother to child. Strategies to achieve these aims call for an engaging role of the City AIDS Council that will put in place sustainable interventions, like rolling out new prevention and testing approaches, establishing facilities offering integrated services for HIV care and strengthening social protection for PLHIV and key populations.
“The fight against HIV and AIDS needs a concerted and coordinated response from all stakeholders, and all local and national chief executives. We must start now to reverse the trend in HIV and AIDS epidemic and save more lives!” Ubial said.