6 days ago
Cebu City logs 101 new HIV cases in First Quarter of 2025
Cebu City has logged a total of 101 new cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the First Quarter of 2025.
According to Dr. Kimberly Sanchez, social hygiene physician at the Cebu City Health Department, the new cases are almost half of the total number of HIV cases in Central Visayas at 255.
Sanchez said that 27 percent of the new cases in Cebu City involved persons ages 15 years old to 24 years old. Most of these persons living with HIV are males who have had sexual contact with fellow males, and those who shared needles while indulged in illegal drugs use.
However, Sanchez said that living with HIV should not be perceived as a 'death sentence,' as persons can still live as normally as possible once intake of medicines is observed properly to strengthen the immune system.
The medicines are available at health centers, free of charge, she said.
Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said that the real challenge is the continued spread of HIV, not Monkeypox (Mpox).
'Ang malaking problema po natin, hindi Monkeypox kundi ang paglaganap ng HIV; 500-percent increase po tayo sa HIV cases sa mga edad 15 hanggang 25. In fact, ang pinakabatang na-diagnose natin ay batang 12-anyos sa Probinsya ng Palawan,' Herbosa pointed out.
The DOH official added that based on data, the Philippines has the most number of new HIV cases in the Western Pacific Region.
Should prevention measures fail, DOH underscored it is possible that an estimated 400,000 individuals in the Philippines may contract HIV.
'Maganda magkaroon tayo ng public health emergency for HIV dahil magtutulong-tulong ang buong lipunan. The whole of government can help us in this campaign na mapababa ang new cases of HIV,' Herbosa added.
Based on DOH data, the Philippines has a total of 148,831 HIV cases, as of this writing.
In the first three months of 2025, confirmed cases have reached a total of 5,101 which is higher compared to the 3,409 cases in the same period in 2024.
The DOH once again called on the public to observe preventive measures such as undergoing HIV test that is free and confidential and to always practice safer, protected sex.
