Just read this article by Jenny F. Manongdo in Manila Bulletin. She cited an official of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS saying that the “the incidence of HIV in the Philippines is a ‘challenge’ aside from being a ‘rising trend’ as more young people are getting infected with the disease.
In her article, she interviewed Teresita Marie P. Bagasao, the UNAIDS Country Coordinator who also said that they have even reported infections as young as 15, because of unprotected sex. Bagasao also reiterated that in the past, the mean age of individuals becoming infected with HIV is late 20’s. Today, she said, there are people who are in their early 20’s that are being diagnosed as HIV positive.
It is unfortunate for the country, really. As young as 15? At that time I was not even thinking about sex yet, but more so on how to pass my algebra exam. At 15 I was in total care of my parents who were still guiding me through my education. It is really hard to take but I guess the society now is different with all the accessibilities to the internet, social networking and DVD pornography all over the country. Time has changed a lot.
I know there are things to be done and I am not here, I reiterate, to help with the prevention of HIV/AIDS because I know 99% of the NGO’s are already doing that. My real mission in life is to assist individuals lighten up their burden by answering al their queries about the disease and the hub and treatment and to reach out to people who are in dire need of financial assistance.
There is hope still, as long as people will just open up their eyes. We are all still deaf about HIV/AIDS and maybe it’s about time to listen up and pay attention.
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