Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Chairman Junie E. Cua on Monday hailed the opening of two new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment areas in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), as he highlighted the need for more treatment areas across the country amid an increase in the number of infected Filipinos.
“Our government is taking active steps to ensure that Filipinos infected by HIV are able to seek treatment. I’m sure that Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., and the Department of Health are working so that we can have more treatment hubs across the country amid the rise in HIV cases,” Cua said.
Cua also reminded HIV patients that the PCSO provides assistance for treatment through its Medical Access Program.
According to Health Sec. Teodoro Herbosa, there are now about 50 new recorded HIV cases daily in the country, up from 22 daily cases in 2022.
Herbosa noted that there is an increase in the number of HIV cases among the younger population, with 47 percent of all new cases coming from the 15 to 24 year-old bracket.
Cua also reminded HIV patients that the PCSO provides assistance for treatment through its Medical Access Program.
“Alam naman po natin na mahal ang HIV treatment. Nais lang natin ipaalala sa ating mga kababayan na nagbibigay ang PCSO ng tulong para sa pagpapagamot ng HIV,” he said.
He also urged HIV-positive Filipinos not to hesitate in seeking treatment, as he underscored that treatment could help ensure that people living with HIV (PLHIV) could still have a good quality of life.
“Ang sabi nga ng mga eksperto, hindi na death sentence ang magkaroon ng HIV, ‘di tulad noong nakaraan. With early diagnosis and treatment, magkakaroon pa rin tayo ng maayos na buhay,” said Cua.
“Kaya’t huwag po sana tayong magdadalawang-isip na harapin ang HIV, humingi tayo ng tulong sa mga pamilya at kaibigan natin ng suporta. At makakaasa rin po kayo na narito ang PCSO para tulungan din kayo,” he added.
