BY: Valerie Ann Dismaya
Every day, we encounter countless people, at school, at work, or in public, and among them could be someone silently living with HIV.
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) attacks the body’s immune system, and when left untreated, it can progress into AIDS. “HIV, when not managed, eventually becomes AIDS,” explained Angeli Naranja, an HIV university counselor.
Discovered in the early 1980s in the United States, the first HIV case in the Philippines was recorded in 1984.
Since then, infections have steadily increased, particularly in the past decade.
According to the Department of Health (DOH), the country records at least 55 new HIV cases every day, most involving young people aged 15 to 34.
“This is very alarming, especially here in our province,” said Board Member Jerry Rosario, Chairman of the Committee on Health in Pangasinan, where the youngest recorded case this year involved a five-year-old child.
Dr. Maria Vivian Villar-Espino, Officer-in-Charge of the Provincial Health Office, added that 53% of local cases fall within that same age group, from as young as 5 to as old as 66.
HIV is primarily transmitted through unprotected sex, sharing of contaminated needles, or from mother to child during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
It cannot, however, be spread through hugging, handshakes, or sharing food, misconceptions that persist to this day.
“HIV can be transmitted even through oral sex,” Naranja explained, adding that public education remains crucial in dispelling myths.
Government efforts, led by the DOH and the Philippine National AIDS Council, continue through free testing, counseling, and access to antiretroviral treatment (ARV) that helps suppress the virus.
“There are real treatments available now, and many success stories,” said Naranja.
The Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act of 2018 (Republic Act 11166) was also enacted to strengthen education, ensure access to health services, and protect individuals from discrimination.
Under the law, minors aged 15 and above can get tested without parental consent, an important step in promoting awareness among youth.
“Under this law, there’s a counselor who can guide you through the testing process,” Naranja added.
For advocates, early testing is an act of love, for oneself and others. “What we’re doing is good, it helps reduce the risk and stigma,” she said.
HIV is not a death sentence, but a condition that can be managed through awareness, testing, and treatment.
As Naranja emphasized, “For those who are unsure or afraid, there’s always help. We have treatment hubs here in Baguio City.”
Education and compassion, she said, remain the most powerful tools in defeating fear and saving lives.
