Out of the 200 HIV cases, only one was reported to be an AIDS case.  There were also no reported deaths.

Aside from these , here are some of the observations made for October:

• 97 percent of the reported cases were males
• The 20-29 age group had the most number of cases
• 108 or 54 percent of the reported cases were from the National Capital Region
• Reported modes of transmissions were sexual contact (183) and needle sharing among injecting drug users (17)
• The predominant type of sexual transmission was males having sex with males
• 21 of the 200 reported cases were OFWs (19 males and 2 females)

        

From the report, the following observations were noted:

1. Three of the 204 reported HIV positive cases were AIDS and all was acquired through sexual contact.
2. Males comprised 90 percent of the cases.
3. Age range for the reported cases were 17 to 55 years old. It was the 20-29 year age group that had the most number of cases at 63 percent.
4. 107 of the 204 reported cases were from the National Capital Region.
5. Modes of transmission were sexual contact (193) and needle sharing among injecting drug users (11). Males having sex with males were the predominant type of sexual transmission at 81 percent.
6. Two deaths were reported for July.

For the full report, download it here.

        

Following the release of the report, here are the main observations pointed out:

1. Most of the cases were males at 92 percent with the median age at 28 years old.
2. The 20-29 age group had the most number of cases.
3. Fifty-two percent of the reported cases came from the National Capital Region.
4. Reported modes of transmissions were through sexual contact and sharing of drug needles. For sexual contact, males having sex with other males still remain predominant.
5. Two males from the 184 reported cases were confirmed AIDS positive. The infection was acquired through bisexual contact.
6. A death was reported for this month.
7. Thirty or 16 percent of the cases were OFWs and were all acquired through sexual contact.

For the full report, download it here.

        

For the reported cases, the following observations had been made:

1. Most of the cases were males (96%).
2. The 20-29 age group had the most number of cases.
3. 54 percent of the reported cases were from the National Capital Region.
4. The reported mode of transmissions were sexual contact and re-use of needles among injecting drug users.
5. Males having sex with males were the predominant type of sexual transmission.
6. Eleven of the reported cases were Overseas Filipino Workers and were acquired through sexual contact.
7. Three of the 171 cases were found AIDS positive and were acquired through sexual contact.

For the full report, download it here.

        

The headline in the Philippine Star read: GOV’T GIVES OUT CONDOMS.

The story was about the now infamous initiative by the Department of Health to promote safer sex during Valentine’s Day which may be some kind of mating season in our country as evidenced by the number of couples in heat queuing in restaurants and motels.

(Yes, there are queues at motels. What is even more amazing is that some people actually patiently wait in their car until a room is available. Talk about a need to breed — a date to fornicate.)

The little ballsy act of giving love in the form of condoms by the newly appointed Department of Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral made the bishops absolutely livid.

Huffing and puffing, they condemned the immorality of giving away condoms, saying it was “lewd”, “vulgar” and “gross”.

They demanded Cabral’s resignation; they asked for her head on a silver platter. If this whole saga were any more remiscent of the 16^th century, they would probably insist that Cabral be burned at the stake.

Even the little rubbers were not spared. The bishops went on a character assassination challenging the integrity of condoms, saying that its use does not prevent the spread of HIV. They insinuated that condoms even promoted it because it encouraged people to be promiscious. They strongly suggested that the possibility of printing a warning on condom packs, similar to what is written on cigarette packs be printed.

And Cabral’s reponse? As reported in the PDI, the DOH Secretary calmly said the health department’s intensified condom distribution program was justified given the unprecedented rise in the number of AIDS cases.

She also said that “while it is very important for us to find out what [the Catholic bishops] think, to cooperate with them in areas where we can be cooperating, the government is the government and must do what it thinks is right for everybody. Not everybody in the Philippines belongs to one church.”

Quite sensibly enough, Sec Cabral ended her statement saying that the DoH was “always willing to discuss and negotiate” the matter with Catholic Church officials.

Sex and Sensibilities lauds Secretary Cabral’s conviction and would like to site another woman  who also wants to stop giving the love glove a bad name.

Dr. Logan Levkoff is a sexologist and an AASECT (American Association of Sex Counselors, Educators and Therapists) — certified sexuality educator. She wrote an ode to condoms which was published in the Huffington Post during National Condom Week last February 15.

As Sex and Sensibilities named this week its own LOVE GLOVE Week, we are re-posting Dr. Levkoff’s ode for everyone’s reading pleasure. This is also meant to be a gesture of raising our glass to toast Secretary Cabral and her concrete efforts to stop the spread of unwanted pregnancies and HIV / AIDS .  

So dear condom (both male and female), how do I love thee?
You allow me to freely engage in sex without worry.
You allow me to protect my fertility, now and in the future.
You allow me to have protection against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
You allow me to shatter the incorrect messages about sex that so many young (and older) people get by enabling me to teach students that there are ways to safely explore sex – when they are ready.
You allow me to promote responsibility as a quality that one must look for in a partner.

So little condom, I know that I am married. I know that I have children. I know that I have been monogamous for a very long time. However, I am still committed to you. Each and every time. I won’t have sex without you.

        

In the campaign  dubbed, “Ingat lagi, my Valentine” (Always be careful/safe, my Valentine), a coupon was given for every purchase of flowers made by adult buyers which could be exchanged for safe sex informational kits and condoms (maximum of 5). Minors were entitled to receive only the informational materials and  a lollipop.

This is the first time the DOH has given out condoms to the public. Dr. Ed Janairo, DOH Head of National Center for Disease Prevention emphasized that this move is meant to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS and is in collaboration with the Global Fund and the Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC). Condom manufacturers, DKT Philippines (makers of Trust, Frenzy and Premiere condoms) and Durex provided the condoms that were given away.

Dr. Eric Tayag, director of the DOH National Epidemiology Center, said that they were working under the directive of newly appointed DOH Secretary Esperanza Cabral (former Secretary of DSWD) who encourgaed an “innovative way of promoting safe sex” among the youth, especially during Valentine’s Day when many may be susceptible to having unprotected casual sex.

The push to increase HIV / AIDS awareness and prevention came after news that STIs and HIV are on the rise among young urban professionals, particularly those in call centers. In December 2009, 126 new AIDS cases were recorded, the highest number to be recorded in one month in 25 years.  A total of 835 AIDS cases were registered in 2009.

The “Ingat lagi, my Valentine” program has been largely criticized by senior Church officials who called the initiative “vulgar, lewd and gross”. Bishop Teodoro Bacani was quoted as saying that giving out condoms might only increase the number of HIV/AIDS cases, adding that the government should have promoted abstinence instead.

An article in Inquirer.net quoted Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Bacani as saying he doubted that Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral herself would give her grownup unwed children condoms and flowers to give to their boyfriends and girlfriends on Valentine’s Day

Condoms, when used properly, have been proven to be 99% effective in the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases as well as unintended pregnancy.

        

Hospital monitoring records show that most of those who tested positive for gonorrhea and/or chlamydia are Call Center agents. These same records show that among those who tested positive, 55% were men who have sex with women and 45% were men who have sex with men (MSM).

The increase in STIs is directly to the increase in HIV cases, which the DOH declared as an epidemic in December 2009.

Changing trend

The numbers may be indicative of changing trend. Previously, the number of HIV incidence was higher in the MSM groups; the numbers are now higher among men who have sex with women.

Sex and Sensibilities sat down with Malou Tan, a public health nurse at the Manila Social Hygiene Clinic in Manila. Malou shares her insights on the matter based on the more than two decades that she has worked in the public health sector.

“There are a lot of men who come to our health facility to have themselves tested. They’re MSM, but are not openly bi-sexual.”, explains Malou. “Sometimes have girlfriends who are totally unaware of the high-risk behavior that they engage in.”

DOH not capable

The DOH has admitted that they do not have the capacity to cope with the increase in the number of STIs and HIV cases and will be dependent on the private sector to implement education campaigns to increase awareness about HIV and change the way they view the disease.

If you suspect that you have been exposed to the HIV virus, get yourself tested.  The Manila Social Hygiene Clinic offers HIV Rapid Testing that gives results in 15 minutes. The test is free, is completely confidential and is 99% accurate. Call 711-6942 or text 0917-822-2824 or 0923-701-8405 to set an appointment.

Check other SexandSensibilities posts for listings of Social Hygiene Clinics in your locality. Protect yourself. Love yourself  first.