ZAMBOANGA CITY— The City Health Office has underscored the need to intensify the conduct of information and education campaign on the prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV-AIDS) in this city.
Dr. Dulce Amor Dagalea-Miravite, Reproductive Health and Wellness Center (RHWC) head, on Thursday said the RHWC detected an average of eight cases of HIV-AIDS per month from January to October this year.
Miravite disclosed that as of October, they have recorded 74 cases of HIV-AIDS with five deaths.
“HIV is real, we are living in a world with HIV and AIDS in it. We need to impart knowledge so that they will be aware and they will know how to prevent and protect themselves,” she said.
She added that Zamboanga City has already registered 294 HIV cases with 43 deaths from 1995 until October this year.
Of the total, 272 cases involved males while the remaining 22 were females.
The age bracket that is most affected is the working group, which is from 25 to 34 years old. They recorded a total of 149 cases.
Miravite said the working group registered the highest HIV-AIDS cases since they have the time and money to explore.
Following second is the youth group which is from 15 to 24 years old with 90 cases.
The other age groups registered the following number of cases: for those less than 15, two cases; 35 to 44, 45 cases; and, 45 to 54, eight cases.
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. It damages the immune system making it easier for a person to get sick.