Mihamok
an tagtapnan!
As reported by The Philippine Star’s Dominique
Nicole Flores, the Department of Health (DOH) has proposed the declaration of a
national public health emergency amid the continued rise in HIV cases, an
alarming development that averages 56 new infections per day. Between January
and April 2025 alone, the DOH reported a 44% increase in HIV cases compared to
the same period last year, totaling 6,703 new infections. As of April, the
number of Filipinos living with HIV has reached 150,433, a sobering milestone
that underscores the gravity of the situation.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa emphasized that
the Philippines is now identified as the fastest-growing HIV epidemic in the
Western Pacific Region, a fact that should jolt both government agencies and
civil society into urgent, coordinated action. The rise in cases, from a daily
average of 21 in 2014 to 48 in 2024, now climbing to 56 in 2025, is more than a
statistical anomaly; it is a call to arms.
Yet despite this grim reality, public discourse
remains disproportionately fixated on the less deadly monkeypox outbreak. The
DOH itself noted this disconnect, stating that the surge in HIV poses a far
more serious and sustained threat to public health than monkeypox. This
divergence in perception and response speaks volumes about where our priorities
lie, and where they should shift.
According to the World Health Organization (2023),
HIV specifically targets and weakens the immune system by attacking CD4 cells,
leading to vulnerability to infections and diseases. Without timely treatment,
it progresses into AIDS, a life-threatening condition. Transmission occurs
primarily through unprotected sex, needle sharing, and vertical transmission
from mother to child. While treatment and prevention methods are widely known,
their effectiveness hinges on early detection, education, and consistent access
to health services.
Since 2006, the most affected age group has shifted
from those aged 35–49 to those aged 25–34, signaling a disturbing trend: a
younger generation is now most at risk. This shift reflects not only behavioral
changes, such as the normalization of casual sex and declining condom use, but
also a troubling gap in education and values formation. Many young people view
sex as transactional and risk-free, influenced by digital platforms that
promote hookups while failing to promote responsibility.
Several factors fuel this surge: inadequate
awareness, social stigma, misconceptions about transmission, and limited access
to youth-friendly services (UNAIDS, 2023; WHO, 2023). If these factors are not
addressed holistically, no amount of data will stop the spread.
This is where multi-sectoral action becomes
non-negotiable. Families must take a more active role in open and honest
conversations with the youth. Schools and communities must provide
comprehensive, age-appropriate sexual health education. Faith-based organizations
must reclaim their voice in values formation, especially across social media
platforms where youth behavior is largely shaped. Meanwhile, the private sector
can amplify advocacy efforts through digital influence, while the government
must invest in systemic, long-term interventions, from testing accessibility to
community-based prevention campaigns.
UNICEF (2022) and WHO (2023) both stress the
importance of early education, parental involvement, and culturally grounded
strategies in reversing HIV trends. We already know what works, the challenge
is in doing it consistently and collaboratively.
Make no mistake: HIV, once it progresses to AIDS,
is far deadlier than the physical scars left by monkeypox. It destroys from the
inside out, and without urgent, strategic, and compassionate action, it will
continue to claim lives at an accelerating pace.
This is not merely a health crisis, it is a moral
and societal one. The question is no longer if we must act, but how fast are we
willing to do so.
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