Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2008. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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Agence France Presse (12.17.08) - Friday, December 19, 2008
Mynardo Macaraig
Though the government estimates the number of HIV/AIDS cases at 8,600, Ruiz says the real figure is likely much higher. "The true number is probably fast approaching 10,000," he said.
World Health Organization (WHO) country representative Soe Nyunt-u said 40 to 45 new infections on average were reported each month in 2008, nearly double the average monthly total last year. The annual number of cases rose to 454 in the first 10 months of this year, from 309 in 2006 to 342 last year. "This is just the tip of the iceberg," he said, noting many cases still go unreported.
"What is alarming is that infections are now being found outside of the traditional high-risk groups: sex workers, men who have sex with men, and Filipinos returning from working overseas," said Ruiz. Young people are particularly at risk, he said.
"There really needs to be a greater government focus on education and prevention programs before it explodes," said Ruiz. "The Department of Education has not done any firm HIV/AIDS program yet, maybe because in the past there were no students and very few young people being diagnosed," he noted.
A major obstacle is the Catholic Church's opposition to sex education in schools and to the promotion of condoms. But Massimo Ghidinelli, a special WHO adviser on HIV/AIDS, said this problem in not insurmountable. "Each country has its own cultural set-up," said Ghidinelli. "It doesn't mean there can't be proper intervention."
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