Naga has Highest HIV Cases in Bicol —Health Officials
Naga City has the highest number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases in Bicol, the Department of Health (DOH) said.
The regional DOH office said Friday that four HIV cases have been recorded in the city from January to March.
A total of 16 new HIV cases were recorded in the city in 2015.
The regional DOH said the city has registered 58 HIV-positive persons from 1988 to 2016 and nine of the patients died from HIV complications in 2015.
City Health Officer Dr. Butch Borja said about 70 percent of their patients are men that had sex with men and 20 percent are overseas Filipino workers.
They also recorded some sex workers who tested positive for HIV.
“Mga 90 percent nito, MSM (men having sex with men), sa percentage, mga 20 percent mga OFW, sa sex workers mga babae, so far mga one to two cases lang tayo. Pero karamihan talaga lalaki. Voluntary pumupunta sa office,” Borja said.
City and health officials held a conference in Naga on Friday as part of their HIV awareness efforts.
Borja, meanwhile, said that they encourage HIV patients to perform contact tracng to help the government track possible HIV patients.
“Hahanapin mo yung mga contacts niya. May mga nakuha kami dito, me merchandiser sa mall, yung iba nagku-comply, pero yung iba hindi na bumabalik. Kaya pag nag-positive, mag-a-undergo sila ng counseling,” Borja said. —Rie Takumi/ALG, GMA News
(Source: GMAnetwork.com)