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According to UNAIDS :
The vast majority of people living with HIV are in low- and middle-
income countries.
In 2017, there were 19.6 million people living with HIV (53%) in
eastern and southern Africa, 6.1 million (16%) in western and
central Africa, 5.2 million (14%) in Asia and the Pacific, and 2.2
million (6%) in Western and Central Europe and North America.
Despite advances in our scientific understanding of HIV and its
prevention and treatment as well as years of significant effort by the
global health community and leading government and civil society
organizations, too many people living with HIV or at risk for HIV still
do not have access to prevention, care, and treatment, and there is
still no cure. However, effective treatment with antiretroviral drugs
can control the virus so that people with HIV can enjoy healthy lives
and reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to others.
The HIV epidemic not only affects the health of individuals, it
impacts households, communities, and the development and
economic growth of nations. Many of the countries hardest hit by
HIV also suffer from other infectious diseases, food insecurity, and
other serious problems.
Despite these challenges, there have been successes and promising
signs. New global efforts have been mounted to address the
epidemic, particularly in the last decade. The number of people
newly infected with HIV has declined over the years. In addition, the
number of people with HIV receiving treatment in resource-poor
countries has dramatically increased in the past decade.
Progress also has been made in preventing mother-to-child
transmission of HIV and keeping mothers alive. In 2017, 80% [61–
>95%] of pregnant women living with HIV had access to
antiretroviral medicines to prevent transmission of HIV to their
babies, up from 47% in 2010.
However, despite the availability of this widening array of effective
HIV prevention tools and methods and a massive scale-up of HIV
treatment in recent years, new infections among adults globally
have not decreased sufficiently.
Philippine Department of Health says 11,103 new HIV cases were reported in 2017, up 19.9 percent
from 2016 [AP]
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New HIV cases continued to increase in the Philippines in 2017, with a 3,147
percent surge since 2007, according to an Al Jazeera analysis of the latest data
published by the country's health agency, bucking a downward trend
worldwide.
Compared with the 342 HIV infections reported in 2007, the 2017 figure is
3,147 percent higher.
READ MORE
The latest report from the Philippines comes after President Rodrigo
Duterte was recently quoted as saying that Filipinos should follow the
government's reproductive health programme, but avoid using condoms
because "it is not satisfying."
The health department said of the new cases in 2017, more than 95 percent
involved male transmission. A total of 38 cases involved minors under 15 years
old.
With a population of more than 100 million, the number of HIV cases in the
Philippines remains low. But in terms of percentage increase, the UN said in
August 2017 the country has the fastest growing HIV epidemic in the Asia-
Pacific region in recent years.
Candy wrapper?
The UN report also said the Philippines has become one of eight countries that
account "for more than 90 percent of new HIV infections" in the region.
For years, the use of condoms and other artificial birth control methods had
been frowned upon in the majority Catholic country.
But that changed after the Philippines passed a reproductive health reform
law in 2012.
Aside from abstinence and natural methods, the government then started to
promote the use of condoms to encourage family planning and safe sex, and
to reduce teenage pregnancy, which is also prevalent in the Philippines.
Commenting on the country's swelling population, Duterte said last week that
Filipinos are too carefree when it comes to reproduction, adding the country
would be more manageable with a smaller population.
"I am not joking. Just follow the government programme [on reproductive
health]. We have free pills but just avoid condoms, because it is not
satisfying," he said.
He also advised women "to get an injection good for six months, so there will
be no limit in your libido".
"His comment on condoms tells us how little he knows about the HIV
epidemic in the Philippines, and how condoms are a scientifically proven
method to prevent its spread," Santos told Al Jazeera.
She said the HIV epidemic "has been festering" because of "historically low
condom use due to shame and stigma and a misconception that condoms are
not pleasurable.
Pagtakhan also pointed out the increase in the number of new cases could be
attributed to more awareness about HIV among the population.
While sex is "a very personal matter", it is necessary that Filipinos must be
well-informed about their options and consequences of their behaviour, he
said.
"In view of the explosive growth in the number of HIV infections in the
Philippines, we need more conversations rather than quick judgement and
hate."