Davao City has 3,810 confirmed HIV/AIDS cases

Men having sex with men (MSM) are still on top of the list of the modes of transmission, however, Remiterre said there are also men having sex both with males and females and heterosexuals.

“Mataas pa rin yung sa MSM, but we also have yung men having sex both with males and females, pero meron ding heterosexual, may female to female. Hindi lang purely MSM, but they maybe the drivers of the epidemic medyo mas marami yung sa kanila pero nagsisimula rin na meron mga heterosexual,” she said.

Remiterre also said that there are only three modes of transmission: blood transmission, mother-to-child transmission, and unprotected penetrated sex and of the three, sex is still the highest cause of transmission.

Remiterre attributed the increase in detection of cases to the opening of community-based testing centers and more people are now accessing the HIV/AIDS services.

“Dahil seguro sa maraming testing centers ngayon. As you can see meron ng nag-open na community-based centers. Medyo tumataas talaga yung kaso natin. Actually tumataas siya in number or talagang ang mga behaviors katulad ng risk sexual behaviors that is why tumataas siya and then we always have new young population coming in na nagiging exploratory so tuloy tuloy pa rin yung cycle natin,” she said.

Nidgie Tindoc, HIV/AIDS case manager of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), confirmed that there is an increase in the number of cases as some people are still practicing unprotected sex.

“Pero kung tan-awon in a positive way there are more people nga ga access sa services labi na karon na naa nay community-based testing and self-testing. Accessible na ang testing karon. Sa karon daghan na gyud kaayo sa SPMC ang among na-cater. Ubay ubay na ang namahulay or nangamatay tungod sa HIV. We are actively accommodating every client na ma-diganose,” she said.

Meanwhile, Remiterre reported that there are a total of 5,256 cases during the same period in Davao Region.

On May 20, 2022, Davao City will join in the commemoration of the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial at Rizal Park. The activity aims to remember the many lives lost to HIV/AIDS.

“We want to remember those who have passed away because this is actually advocacy for prevention and treatment and support, nagka-Covid man at dalawang taon tayong walang activity, but of course we always do this even in the past two years kahit virtual. Let’s not forget that HIV/AIDS is still with us and we are still strong in prevention para ma-prevent na meron pa ring mamatay dahil sa HIV,” Remiterre said.