More than 200 die of HIV/AIDS this year

MANILA, Philippines — Some 276 Filipinos have died this year from the HIV/AIDS, Rep. Ron Salo of party-list group Kabayan said yesterday.

He based his statement on data given to him by the Department of Health (DOH) during budget deliberations at the House of Representatives on Friday.

He said 276 is the accumulated total of deaths between January and July. 

He said in July, 30 died from the infection.

He added that 2,326 infected Filipinos had died between January 2013 and July this year.

Salo pointed out that 859 new cases have been reported this year – 801 male and 58 female, seven of whom were pregnant.

Most of those who got infected were in the 25-34 years age group, he said.

Two victims, aged 15, were the youngest, while 23, aged 50 years and above, were the oldest, he said.

“A 65-year-old overseas Filipino worker (OFW) is the oldest,” he added.

He urged the DOH to take special care of seniors with HIV/AIDS infection.

“They should be enjoying retirement and old age with their grandchildren, not dealing with the disease,” he said.

During the budget debates, another congressman, Aniceto Bertiz lll, the lone representative of millions of OFWs, lamented that the DOH and the Department of Labor and Employment have no mechanisms to check returning OFWs for HIV/AIDS virus.