The Provincial Health Office (PHO) on Wednesday called on the public to undergo free testing and counselling for Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus (HIV) as cases of the disease in Bohol continued to rise.
According to PHO program coordinator Milagros Israel, they are offering HIV testing and counselling at Poblacion 1 in Tagbilaran City on Tuesday, June 27.
These will be administered with complete privacy, she said.
The health official highlighted the importance to verify if a person has HIV as she noted that some of those who carry the disease do not show symptoms.
According to Israel, the measure would also determine a person’s readiness to donate blood and prevent transfusion-transmitted infections.
Currently, there is still no cure for HIV, Israel said as reminder to the public.
Based on a 2015 data from the health department’s headquarters in Central Visayas, Bohol is second in terms of HIV cases at 58 in the entire region, including Negros Oriental.
Cebu was first with 67 cases while Negros Oriental and Siquijor had six and two cases, respectively, in the same year.
Since 1984, 62 people in the region have died due to complications caused by the disease. (Rey Tutas)