DOH: HIV cases in PH to reach 215, 400 by year end

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the country is expected to reach up to 215,400 by the end of 2024, according to the Department of Health on Dec. 1. 

As of September 2024, an estimated 131,335 cases of HIV have been reported by the health department, of which 4,595 confirmed cases have been reported from July to September alone.

About 50 HIV cases were also recorded on a daily average in the country.

Out of the newly reported cases, 4,362 (95%) were males while 233 (5%) were females. 

The cases ranged from 1 to 73 years old. By age group, 24 years old were less than 15 years old; 1,473 were 15-24 years old; 2,179 were 25-34 years old; 808 were 35-49 years old; and 112 were 50 years and older.

From July to September 2024, the National Capital Region, CALABARZON, Central Luzon, Central Visayas, Western Visayas and Davao region reported the most newly diagnosed cases, accounting for 72% of all cases, while 1,220 cases (26%) were reported from other regions.

Rapid increase 

The number of newly confirmed HIV cases reported each month has been rising. 

In 2021, the average monthly number of cases was 1,027; in 2022, it jumped by 21%, or 1,245; and in 2023, it increased by 15%, or 1,437. The average diagnosis increased a little to 1,480 each month between January and September of 2024. 

Citing the estimates from the AIDS Epidemic Model (AEM), to the health department, "if prevention and interventions won't scale up," the number of HIV diagnoses in the Philippines might reach 448,000 by 2030.

The UN’s children's fund is also alarmed over the high rate of new HIV infections among young women and girls, and  warned  that  they lack access to prevention and treatment.

"Children and adolescents are not fully reaping the benefits of scaled up access to treatment and prevention services," it said. "Yet children living with HIV must be prioritized when it comes to investing resources and efforts to scale up treatment for all, this includes the expansion of innovative testing technologies."

In light of  the Philippine World Aids Day, the DOH partnered with the PNAC to formally launch the “Undetectable = Untransmittable Campaign” in an effort to prevent the number of cases from rising.

The campaign's efforts include encouraging people who tested positive for HIV to get treatment, wear condoms for safe sex, and take oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis to lower their risk of HIV infection.

“This intensified campaign is to alleviate the latest Philippine HIV estimates that show that by the end of 2024, People Living with HIV (PLHIV) in the country is estimated to hit 215,400 count,” the agency stated on Dec. 1.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, stressed the importance of safe sex and early detection.  “Practice safe sex, regularly undergo HIV testing, and encourage all your peers to do the same,” he said in a statement

“It is only through collective action that we will be able to end the HIV epidemic in the country. We must all work together to ensure that those who need it most–especially our PLHIVs and other key populations–are able to access our HIV services without difficulty or stigma, dahil sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Buhay Mahalaga,” he added.