BAGUIO CITY — Representatives from different health organizations, government agencies, and entertainment spots in Baguio call for aggressive measures as cases of human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in the city continued to rise.
In the latest available data on HIV/AIDS cases in Baguio, there were cases listed in 2019, at least 14 cases in 2020, 31 in 2021, and 56 in 2022. From January to June of 2023, there were 19 new cases in the city.
The agency calls for HIV/AIDS testing, especially for key and vulnerable populations.
According to Health Services Office in-charge Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, efforts are extended to persuade the key and vulnerable population to be tested, properly diagnosed, and enrolled in anti-retroviral treatment at a rate of 95 percent so as to render the virus non-transmissible.
The viral load should be lowered and suppressed to allow people living with HIV to live normal lives, she said.
Data had shown that not all key and vulnerable populations have access to preventive services or are practicing protective behavior, not all PLHIVs are diagnosed, and not all diagnosed PLHIVs are on life-saving ART.
An ART is a medical regimen that reduces and keeps the amount of virus under control and helps keep an HIV-positive individual healthy. Other conditions, including illnesses from other sources, can persist even with ART.