Northern Mindanao described as HIV-AIDS hot spot
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – Health officials say Northern Mindanao is now a hot spot for the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV-AIDS) after 30 new cases were recorded in the region during the first quarter of the year alone.
Dr. Evelyn Magsayo, program officer for the prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections of the Northern Mindanao regional office of the Department of Health, described the spread of HIV in the region as “fast and furious.”
She illustrated how fast the virus was spreading by saying that in 2008, only 45 HIV-AIDS cases were recorded in the region. Twenty four cases were recorded for the whole year of 2009, which pushed the total number to 69. But for the first quarter of this year only, 30 cases have already been recorded, she said.
No breakdown was given, however, between mere HIV infection and cases of fullblown AIDS.
Magsayo said that based on their detection rate, more cases were expected to be monitored this year.
Fritzie Estoque, chairperson of the Misamis Oriental-Cagayan de Oro Aids Network (Mocan), a coalition of government and private institutions on HIV-AIDS concerns, said the youngest patient recorded in the region was 14-year-old male.
“This is not part of a mother to child HIV infection,” Estoque said.
The oldest recorded person with HIV in the region was a 70-year-old man, who despite his age was still sexually active, Estoque said.
Estoque said there were “text clans” that helped spread the virus.
“They meet for sexual encounters and this usually involves multiple partners in a single night,” said Rey Namocatcat of the Tingug-CdO, a group advocating HIV-AIDS awareness.
Estoque said unprotected sexual activity among the youth was to blame for the rapid increase in HIV-AIDS figure in Northern Mindanao.
Namocatcat said recent statistics revealed that most cases involved men having sex with men. He said many men shy away testing due to various reasons, among them, sexual discrimination.
Joey Retuya, Cagayan de Oro City health officer, said they were not singling out gays but he agreed with Namocatcat that discrimination against gays was one reason why only a few want to be tested.
Retuya said the city government continued with its surveillance and monitoring of the vulnerable and high-risk sector, which includes commercial sex workers, to prevent the spread of the virus.
Magsayo said the DOH has designated the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) here as HIV testing center.
In Davao del Sur, the provincial health office said 15 out of the 28 confirmed cases of HIV-AIDS were from Digos City, the provincial capital.
Jaypee Malibiran, educator for sexually transmitted diseases at the provincial health office, said they continue to work with HIV-AIDS prevention advocacy group Alagad Mindanao to trace more cases and educate the youth.
“The figures could just be the tip of an iceberg because most people tend not to be tested,” Mabiliran said. With reports from Eldie Aguirre and Orlando Dinoy, Inquirer Mindanao
