Philippines: HIV
cases in 2017, more than 95 percent
cases up 3,147
percent in 10 years
Critics say President Duterte's
statement deriding condom use as 'not
satisfying' harms advocacy to prevent
HIV.
New HIV cases continued to increase
in the Philippines in 2017, with a 3,147
percent surge since 2007, according to
an Al Jazeera analysis of the latest data
published by the country's health
agency, bucking a downward trend
worldwide.
In a February 2018 report, the
Philippine Department of Health said
11,103 new cases were reported in
2017, up 19.85 percent from the 9,264
cases in 2016.
Compared with the 342 HIV infections
reported in 2007, the 2017 figure is
3,147 percent higher.
In contrast, new HIV cases reported
worldwide had gone down, from 2.1
million in 2015 to 1.8 million in 2016,
according to the latest figures provided
by the World Health Organization and
the UN AIDS Programme.
The latest report from the Philippines
comes after President Rodrigo Duterte
was recently quoted as saying that
Filipinos should follow the
government's reproductive health
programme, but avoid using condoms
because "it is not satisfying."
The health department said of the new
involved male transmission. A total of
38 cases involved minors under 15
years old.
With a population of more than 100
million, the number of HIV cases in the
Philippines remains low. But in terms
of percentage increase, the UN said in
August 2017 the country has the fastest
growing HIV epidemic in the Asia-
Pacific region in recent years.
"Policies restricting access to condoms
are a threat to public health," Conde s
aid in a statement to Al Jazeera, citing
the spread of HIV and the continued
high maternal mortality rate.
In a statement posted on social media,
Risa Hontiveros, an opposition senator,
wrote: "It's not satisfying if you use
condoms? Try HIV-AIDS and teenage
pregnancy."
Meanwhile, Ronnievinn Pagtakhan, a
top Filipino advocate of HIV-AIDS
prevention, told Al Jazeera the increase
of HIV cases continues to be
"alarming.
"There is an epidemic," he said, noting
of the 100-120 people getting tested
daily at a health centre he runs in
Manila, between 8-10 percent test
positive.
Pagtakhan also pointed out the increase
in the number of new cases could be
attributed to more awareness about
HIV among the population.
While sex is "a very personal matter", it
is necessary that Filipinos must be
well-informed about their options and
consequences of their behaviour, he
said.
"In view of the explosive growth in the
number of HIV infections in the
Philippines, we need more
conversations rather than quick
judgement and hate."