13 South Cotabato teens test positive for HIV

KORONADAL CITY — More than a dozen high school students who engaged in risky sexual behavior were infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes the dreaded acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), in South Cotabato province, a trend that alarmed officials.

“It is devastating to know that there have been cases from the younger age groups, among senior high school students in particular,” Gov. Daisy Fuentes said.

She said 134 people were infected with HIV/AIDS in 2018, up by 7 percent from 124 cases recorded in 2017.

Screening0

John Arlo Codilla, infectious diseases coordinator of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (Ipho), said 13 high school students tested positive for HIV last year.

They underwent voluntary screening conducted by Ipho, in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), in high schools in the province’s 10 towns and lone city.

The HIV infection cases were largely brought about by unprotected casual sexual intercourse, some with multiple partners, Codilla said.

Fuentes stressed the need to continue strengthening the province’s partnership with DepEd to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, including other sexually transmitted diseases, among students.

The province established its HIV/AIDS treatment facility in 2016 to address the spread of the disease in the area.

Treatment facility

Fuentes said the HIV/AIDS Core Team (HACT) treatment facility was the first local government unit-managed fully functional HIV/AIDS clinic in the country.

The World Health Organization and the Department of Health (DOH) that recognized the province’s HACT treatment facility as a good initiative in preventing the spread of the disease, she said.

Last year, Fuentes said the HACT clinic received from the DOH the “Gawad Pulang Laso” for being the first local government-certified and accredited HIV treatment hub in Soccsksargen (Region 12).

At least 744 cases of HIV/AIDS have been detected in the province over the years, mostly involving males between 25 and 34 years old, the Ipho reported.

Raising awareness

In an earlier statement, Dr. Rogelio Aturdido Jr., South Cotabato health officer, said “males having sex with males” was the most common method of HIV/AIDS transmission in the province.

He attributed the rise in HIV/AIDS detection rate to the increasing awareness of the people about the disease due to the information campaign conducted by the government and other private groups.

Aturdido said early detection was important to facilitate immediate treatment and prevent it from developing into full-blown AIDS.