CATARMAN, Northern Samar (PIA) – The human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) core team of the provincial government of Northern Samar recently initiated and conducted a forum in line with the celebration of the World AIDS Day 2023 which is observed every first day of December.
This was carried out through the Provincial Health Office STI/HIV AIDS Prevention and Control program in partnership with the Provincial Gender and Development Focal Point System.
Jeane Pelayo, the Provincial STI/HIV-AIDS prevention and control program manager, disclosed in a report that from 2015 to October 2023, there are 204 people living with HIV in this province.
Data presented also showed that the source of infection came mostly from Metro Manila with 47%. Affected are predominantly male (91%) and as diagnosed, HIV cases mode of transmission is largely by sexual contact through male-male sex and high in the age group of 25-34 years old.
“We regularly facilitated HIV testing as part of our advocacy, conducted an AIDS candlelight memorial, organized Municipal AIDS Councils, conducted HIV AIDS awareness to Health Care Workers and Barangay SK Chairpersons along with students from different schools,” Pelayo said.
“Aside from those activities, we exhausted all efforts by guesting in the radio programs for massive information dissemination and awareness,” Pelayo added.
The main purpose in celebrating the World AIDS Day is to raise awareness on HIV, commemorate those who lost their lives, support those individual living with HIV, promote more efforts on prevention and advocate for policy change, she said.
Elena Felix, 68 years old, who spoke for herself as one living with HIV for more than 30 years, encouraged individuals to undergo HIV testing and submit for treatment.
For his part, Northern Samar Governor Edwin Ongchuan emphasized the importance of awareness saying that it is in educating the people that eradicates the stigma around the disease.
The 2023 World AIDS Day carries the theme, “Let communities lead; Empowering Communities to lead in the HIV/AIDS response.” (MMP/ADiaz/PIA Northern Samar)
