POPCOM Supports Call to End HIV/AIDS Social Stigma

The Commission on Population (POPCOM), as staunch advocate of quality health and well- being, said on Wednesday it is fully supporting the call to end the social stigma caused by HIV/AIDS.

At the same time, POPCOM also called for further awareness in order to curb the rapid increase of cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) every year.

POPCOM Executive Director Juan Antonio A. Perez III said they have been conducting educational discussions on HIV/AIDS integrated in its program components: Adolescent Health Development (AHD) and Gender and Development (GAD).

Dr. Perez said that among these components are You-for-You (U4U), an innovative mix of face-to-face and online activities, and educating young people on the risks of unprotected sex, including the ABCDE of HIV prevention and control.

The ABCDE stands for: A-Abstain from sex; Be-Faithful to your partner; C-Consult an adult; D-Don’t use drugs nor drink too much alcohol; and E-Education and early detection and treatment.

Meanwhile, the Kalalakihang Tapat sa Responsibilidad at Obligasyon sa Pamilya (KATROPA) and Sexually Healthy and Personally Effective (SHAPE) Adolescents resource books stress the following information on the transmission of the virus to shed light on prevailing misconceptions:

* HIV/AIDS CAN be transmitted through: Unprotected, penetrative sex; Blood and blood products; Mother to child and Injecting drug users.

* HIV/AIDS CANNOT be transmitted through: Hugging/kissing; Sharing of food and clothes with a person living in HIV; Coughing, sneezing, insect bites; and Use of public pools and toilets.

The POPCOM official also encouraged everyone to practice a healthy lifestyle and be responsible individuals by knowing their HIV status.

He explained that nationwide, there are testing centers and hygiene clinics that offer free HIV testing services and ensure the confidentiality of the results. Knowing one’s status will help an individual get early treatment and care, he said.

“This way, one can protect himself or herself from higher risks and even protect other people, especially their loved ones,” he added.

He further said that information dissemination is important to convey the correct message to everyone — that HIV is preventable and that anybody can acquire the virus.

“Be informed. Take the test. End HIV/AIDS,” he stressed.

The Philippines recorded the highest number of HIV cases in June.

According to the Department of Health, there were 841 new cases of HIV in June 2016, breaking the previous high of 804 cases recorded in January of the same year.

A total of 777 of the cases or more than 90 percent were transmitted through sexual contacts, majority of them among men having sex with men. Sixty new cases were related to injecting drug users while the remaining four cases were of mother-to-child transmission.

HIV is a virus that destroys the human body’s natural defense against diseases or infections, causing the immune system to weaken and not function properly.

No human being, by age or by sex, is immune to HIV infection. Healthy people can acquire the virus and if not treated properly, it could lead to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which is the final stage of HIV. (PNA) SCS/LSJ