By Bruce EGT Zabala
Provincial Capitol
A fast growing city like Tagbilaran is considered a high-risk area for the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STD).
This was the impression presented by Dr. Reymoses Cabagnot, Provincial Health Officer and chairman of the Provincial HIV/AIDS Multisectoral Council (PHAMC). Karaoke TV bars and other nightly joints are mushrooming in the city and tourism has also spawned an active night life here.
This is further compounded by the fact that there is still much be known by a majority of the Filipino populace about the dreaded HIV/AIDS. Much information has yet to be disseminated and many wrong notions or misconceptions are to be corrected. Various agencies whether in the government or in the private sector have constantly been and even more, been doubling their efforts in educating all sectors of society.
As part of the efforts in this universal endeavor the government represented by the Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC) and a conglomeration of various organization and institutions namely the Provincial HIV/AIDS Multisectoral Council (PHAMC) sponsored a Partnership forum with the members of the local Media on September 13, 2007 at the Bohol Plaza Resort to present to them the current situation of the HIV/AIDS menace that has slowly and silently infecting more Filipinos and to educate them on this disease or simply giving them the “bigger picture†regarding this infection.
The picture being that as of July this year that already there are 2,916 reported cases of the infection 2,146 (74%) are Asymptomatic, 770 (26%) are full blown AIDS Cases, already 304 (40% of total AIDS Cases) have died due to AIDS related Complications. Furthermore, that 1,692 (58% were in the 25-39 are group) and that 1,908 (66% were males) and the leading Mode of Transmission is thru Sexual Intercourse (87%).
And just for July alone this year, there were New HIV Ab Seropositive Cases reported having 31 infected people (15 from NCR), composed of 27 males and 4 females in the median age of 33 years (age range 21-55).
Modes of Transmission mostly thru sexual contact among the 28. With 10 heterosexual, 9 homosexual, 9 bisexual and 3 by still unknown modes of transmission (probably thru usage of a single infected needles, a practice among drug users).
But there maybe more out there that have not reported their infection. Afraid or ashamed to come out in the open due to the stigma brought about by the negative effect that still prevails after the mishandling of the information about the disease when news about HIV/AIVS first broke out.
But other inputs for the media practitioners were not only statistics but basic and facts about the disease and how to avoid infection. That HIV or the Human Immunodefiency Virus is the microorganism that causes the infection. That AIDS or the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is the terminal state or condition after contracting HIV.
That there are 4 body fluids that carry HIV, which are blood, semen, vaginal/cervical fluids and breastmilk. And can be transmitted thru unprotected penetrative sex with HIV infected partner, infected blood and blood products or infected mother to child not by other means such as mere touching, bathing in the same pool, or using the same toilet or utensils not even by kissing except of the course probably the “Australian Kissâ€.
And importantly the ABCs of prevention which are A- Abstinence. Avoid behaviors that put you at risk of infection, e.g. sharing needles and having unprotected sex. B-BE FAITHFUL. Stick to only one partner. C-CAREFUL SEX ( CONDOMS ) Protect self by using latex condoms during oral, anal or vaginal sex.
Later in the forum the participants were given the shock of their lives when one of the facilitators bared to all that she was HIV positive and answered all the sensitive questions that have been irking or tickling everyone’s mind. What shocked the participants most was that she looked just like everybody and shows no signs of illness or malaise whatsoever.
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