By Gabriel Kim Leal
(June 6, 2025) – An official from a United Nations agency on Friday joined calls for the Philippine government to declare human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) a national public health emergency, citing a sharp rise in new cases.
Dr. Louie Ocampo, UNAIDS Country Director for the Philippines, said the move is long overdue and could help unify efforts across agencies and local government units.
“If the intention is to consolidate ‘yung efforts ng lahat ng sangay ng gobyerno, kasama na ‘yung local government unit sa pagdedeklara ng national health emergency, at kung ito ‘yung paraan para tugunan ng lahat ng gobyerno ‘yung problema natin sa HIV, siguro po ay hindi lang ngayon,” said Ocampo.
The country observed a 500% increase in HIV cases among Filipinos aged 15 to 25, according to Health Sec. Teodoro Herbosa in a video message on Tuesday.
ALSO READ: DOH calls for national public health emergency as HIV cases in PH surge 500%
The secretary did not provide exact figures, but he said the Philippines now has the highest number of new HIV infections in the Western Pacific region.
The latest report from the Department of Health (DOH) shows 148,831 HIV cases recorded from 1984 to March 2025. In the first quarter of this year alone, 5,101 new cases were reported—up from 3,409 during the same period last year.
Dr. Katerina Leyritana, Medical Director of the Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines, stressed the need to correct common misconceptions about HIV.
She noted that while more people are now getting tested for HIV, stigma and discrimination continue to prevent many others from seeking diagnosis and treatment.
“Ang transmission ng HIV, ay kumbaga nadadala ng certain fluids of the body. It’s either dugo, semilya, or breast milk. Wala po ito sa katauhan ng tao, kundi ito ay sa kanyang ginagawa. ‘Wag po tayong magpoint ng fingers. Dahil a person who is at risk for HIV might be someone close to you,” said Leyritana.
As of March 2025, only 55% of people living with HIV in the Philippines know their status, far below the UNAIDS 95-95-95 global targets: 95% diagnosed, 95% of those on treatment, and 95% achieving viral suppression, according to DOH.
(With reports from JC Cosico, News5)
(CMZ)
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