09 Jul TO FIGHT HIV, PHL MUST FOCUS ON MEN HAVING SEX WITH MEN
To reduce the number of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) cases in the country, the Philippine government must focus its efforts on MSM (men who have sex with men) sector, a representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said.
UNFPA country representative Ugochi Daniels said the government and private health units must act swiftly to help HIV patients from the MSM sector.
Data from the Department of Health (DOH) show that in 2011, transmission of HIV commonly occurs among men who have sex with men.
In May 2011, HIV transmission among MSM account for 83 percent of new HIV cases recorded that month.
Daniels said she once worked with HIV/AIDS patients in Sub-Saharan Africa, then the “epicenter” of HIV in the region.
She said the key to success in reducing the number of HIV transmissions in the region is by making their response and awareness campaigns tailor-fit for young people.
“The key to success in Sub-Saharan Africa is a multisectoral and comprehensive response, where we targeted sex contact among the youth, the most common mode of HIV transmission,” she said