Among the four provinces in Central Visayas, Bohol ranked second in terms of the highest number of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) cases, said the Department of Health (DOH) 7.

According to DOH-7’s Re-Emerging Infectious Disease Program coordinator Dr. Van Baton, 153 HIV cases have been recorded in Bohol from 1984 to June of 2017 while 27 cases of the disease developed into full-blown AIDS.

Over varying periods of time, HIV, a virus that attacks the immune system, leads to AIDS.

Meanwhile, Cebu recorded the most number of HIV and AIDS cases with 3,665 and 219, respectively.

Negros Oriental recorded 84 HIV cases and 15 AIDS cases, while Siquijor, the smallest and least populated province in the region, tallied six HIV cases in the same period.

Baton ascribed Cebu’s high number of HIV and AIDS cases to its location as gateway from other regions to the rest of Central Visayas.

The DOH still attributed the growth in the number of cases of HIV to unprotected sexual intercourse and sharing of needles with those who have the infection.

According to the DOH, most of the HIV cases in the region were recorded among those aged 15 to 24.

While the government has launched efforts to address the rising number of HIV and AIDS cases in the country, the DOH still considers HIV screening as among chief measures against the spread of the infection.

Tomorrow, December 1, is World AIDS Day. (Rey Tutas)