Malacanang has ordered an intensified information campaign on Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome after the health department recorded 274 Human Immunodeficiency Virus infections in February, the highest incidence in a single month in the country.
February’s incidence was a 72 increase over the 159 cases recorded in the same month last year and brought the total number of HIV/AIDS cases in the country to 8,850
“We find it (increase) alarming. That’s the reason why we have asked Health Secretary Enrique Ona to ensure that further information measures be done in the prevention of AIDS,” Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Monday.
“The emphasis of the Department of Health is to ensure that preventive measures (against) AIDS are being undertaken … However, this is a personal decision (on) the part of the people who are engaged in those activities, but we continue to promote education on the prevention HIV/AIDS in the country,” he added.
Of the February HIV cases, 235 were infected through sexual contact, and 39 through the sharing of needles by drug users.
