Manila, 3 June (IANS). The Health Department of the Philippines on Tuesday recommended HIV to declare HIV as a national health emergency, as HIV cases have increased by 500 percent among the youth.
Health Secretary Taudoro Herbosa said in a video message that HIV cases have increased in youths aged 15 to 25 years. From January to March this year, 57 new cases came up every day, which is the highest in the Western Pacific region.
According to DOH, the new HIV cases have been more than doubled in the last 10 years. There were 21 cases daily in 2014, which increased to 48 in 2024. 56 cases were registered every day from January to April 2025, which is 44 percent more than the previous year. HIV patients in the Philippines are decreasing. According to the data, the highest number of cases have been seen in the age of 25 to 34 years since 2006.
The main cause of HIV is sexual contact, especially in men having sex with men.
According to the World Health Organization, HIV is a virus, which weakens the body’s immunity. Its most serious form is AIDS. HIV attacks the white blood cells of the body, which reduces immunity and can easily occur like TB, infection or cancer.
HIV spreads with the blood of an infected person, breast milk etc. It does not spread by kissing, hugging or sharing food. This can also happen to the child from the mother.
HIV can be prevented and treated by anti -retrovable therapy. If there is no treatment, HIV can become AIDS after many years.
The World Health Organization has fixed its definition for HIV disease of adults and adolescents. Also, HIV positive children under 5 years of age are also classified in the category of advanced HIV disease.
-IANS
MT/GKT
