By NewsDesk   @bactiman63

The Philippines has one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in the world and country public health officials say that the 21 new HIV cases diagnosed every day means that the country is facing a public health threat which needs the continuing cooperation and collaboration of all local communities, civil society organizations, key populations at risk and the whole of government.

Republic of the Philippines
Image/CIA

The Philippines had for many years a low level HIV epidemic. From 1984 to 2006, there was a slow but steady increase. However in recent years, the number of new cases detected per year has increased dramatically.

According to the DOH HIV/AIDS and ART Registry of the Philippines (HARP), there are now a total of 81,169 HIV and AIDS cases reported from January 1984 to October 2020. In October 2020, there were a total of 735 confirmed HIV-positive individuals. Ninety-six percent (704) of whom were male.

Among the total 81,169 diagnosed cases from January 1984 to October 2020, 94% (76,216) were male and more than half (51%, 41,163) were 25-34 years old at the time of diagnosis.

Moreover, among the 81,169 cases, the regions with the most number of reported cases were NCR with 30,622 cases (38%), CALABARZON with 12,467 (15%), Central Luzon with 8,005 (10%), Central Visayas with 6,827 (8%), and Davao Region with 4,477 (6%).