HIV Epidemic in Philippines is The Fastest In Asia Pacific
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS or UNAIDS published a report where Philippines has become the region with the fastest growing HIV epidemic in Asia Pacific region. 140% increase was shown in the report as the amount of new-diagnosed people with HIV for the last 6 years.
"If HIV programming is re-directed to focus on the people most at risk and where they are located, I’m sure the country can not only return to a stable situation but even end the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030," - said Eamonn Murphy, Director of UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Asia-Pacific
Percentage of people who knows for sure how to test, prevent and live with HIV remains small in the region due to few companies, dedicated to increase the knowledge about HIV epidemic among the population. The effort to widen access to the tests, data and medicines to the different LGBT communities was also mentioned by UNAIDS, as well as the progress that was reached, like three new medical facilities where people can consult with specialists and test for HIV.
"The Department of Health, together with the Philippine National AIDS Council, other government agencies, local government units, and partner civil society groups is determined and committed to halt the increase in the number of cases and start reversing the trend of the epidemic in five years," - said Patricia Lourdes Viray, Health Secretary of Philippines.
