By: Lottie Salarda, InterAksyon.com
August 19, 2016 12:37 PM
InterAksyon.com
TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — The Department of Health in Eastern Visayas has recorded 33 cases of HIV/AIDS with five deaths from January to June this year.
This year’s cases bring the total in the region’s six provinces to 335, from 1984 to June 2016, DOH regional spokesperson Ma. Elena Joy Villarosa said.
Of the provinces, Leyte has had the most cases, at 184, followed by Samar with 53, Southern Leyte, 38, Eastern Samar, 25, Biliran, 19, and Northern Samar with 16.
The DOH said transmission remained highest among homosexuals, with 151 recorded cases, followed by bisexuals, with 96. Heterosexual transmission was third at 86.
The DoH Epidemiology Bureau reported 804 new HIV infections in the country so far this year, 50 percent higher than the same period in 2015. It said 97 percent of those infected were male, more than half of them from the 25-34 year age group, and 28 percent from the 15-24 year group.
Rainbow Rights Philippines, an LGBT rights group, said this confirmed an upward trend in HIV infections that began in 2007.
Last week, National Youth Commission chairman Aiza Seguerra said among his priorities are promoting HIV/AIDS awareness among LGBT youth.
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