DOH records 483 HIV cases in Caraga
BUTUAN CITY, July 25 - A total of 483 human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV) cases with 41 reported HIV-AIDS related deaths were recorded by in
Caraga region by the Department of Health (DOH) from 1995 to February 2018.
Of
the total cases, 95 percent or 459 were males while 24 cases or 5 percent
were females, and most of these cases were from the 15-24 year age group.
In
February 2018 alone, 12 new HIV antibody sero-positive individual were reported
and all these cases were males. The reported cases for the said month are 50
percent higher compared to the same period last year.
Butuan
City has the highest number of cases reaching 153, followed by Agusan del Sur
with 94, and Surigao del Norte with 93 cases.
Sexual
contact remains the main mode of transmission with 479 cases, 53.2 percent or
257 of which are through homosexual contact.
HIV
is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). It is one
of the most serious infections that people can acquire through sex.
With
the rising cases of HIV in the region, the Commission on Population
(PopCom)-Caraga and the DOH-Caraga, urge everyone especially the young people
to be responsible of their sexual behavior or action; refrain from sexual
activities that would lead to unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections
(STIs) including HIV and AIDS.
PopCom
and DOH, along with its program partners, are continuously intensifying their
respective advocacies and programs for the young people through various
activities to address the pressing issues concerning them; these interventions
provide adolescents and youth with appropriate information, life skills, and
services to enable them to cope with their sexual and full development into
adulthood.
The
Adolescent Health and Development (AHD) Program of the government aims to
reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancies, early sexual involvement, early
marriages, and other reproductive health problems such as sexually transmitted
infections and HIV/AIDS, among other. (PopCom-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
RH campaign for youth takes social media
BUTUAN, July 25 - The United States Agency for International
Development-Mindanao Health, along with the Commission on Population (PopCom) -
Caraga and other government offices, took the campaign for Adolescent
Reproductive Health to next level through its recently launched newest
project "Caraga #SoMe4AYRH" Campaign.
Caraga
#SoMe4AYRH or social media for adolescent and
youth reproductive health project is an interactive learning tool that
promotes, educates and provides youth and adolescents with correct information
on life skills, responsible sexuality and reproductive health that can help
protect them from poor decisions and abuse.
Arlys
D. Demata, Mindanao Health Area Technical Team Leader for Caraga Region,
admitted that young people nowadays use social media to express themselves, to
belong in certain groups, and experiment with their personalities and
identities.
According
to the 2013 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study (YAFS 4), Filipino youth
of today embraces new media. About 78% have cellular phone, 59% use the
internet and 53% have social networking account.
Being
partner for said initiative, PopCom-Caraga developed a Facebook page devoted
for interactive forum of adolescent sexuality and reproductive concerns.
While
communication in today’s world is an important factor for any institution,
PopCom Caraga Regional Director Alexander A. Makinano recognized the advantage
of technology, the internet and the social media in creating awareness and
providing adolescents good access to news and health information.
However,
PopCom-Caraga, in all its information dissemination activities, cautioned the
young people to be responsible online and mindful when using an online
educational platform or create digital content. Internet is a space where people
can discover new things, but it is also a dangerous place if not use safely and
responsibly, said Makinano.
With
the concerted efforts of program partners and stakeholders, PopCom hopes that
this intervention will help create positive environment that will enable all
young people to maximize their potential, develop their capabilities to manage
their future and become responsible individuals. (PopCom-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Tagalog News: 10 sundalo ng 401st Brigade, Philippine Army pinarangalan
Ni Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD
NG BUTUAN, Hulyo 25 (PIA) - Pinarangalan ang may 10 sundalo ng 401st Brigade,
Philippine Army kasabay ng ika-46 na anibersaryo ng nasabing brigade sa Camp
Datu Lipus Makapandong, New Leyte, Barangay Awa, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.
Napag-alaman
na dahilan sa kanilang dedikasyon sa tungkulin bilang sundalo at katapangan sa
mga naisagawang combat operations sa probinsya ng Agusan del Sur at Surigao del
Sur na naging kontribusyon sa tagumpay at pagkakahuli ng ilan-ilang miyembro ng
teroristang New People’s Army (NPA) at pagkakasabat ng mga firearms at
ammunitions at mahahalagang dokumento mula sa NPA, ay naparangalan ang 10
sundalo na nagmula sa 26th Infantry Battalion, 75th Infantry Battalion, 9th
Special Forces Company at 3rd Special Forces Battalion sa ilalim ng 401st
Brigade.
Si
Major General Ronald Villanueva, kumander ng 4th Infantry Division mismo ang
nagsabit ng parangal kasama si Brigadier General Andres Centino, kumander ng
401st Brigade sa sampung magigiting na sundalo na nakilalang sina Technical
Sargeant (Tsg) Joseph Frago, Staff Sargeant (Ssg) Joseph Hulibayan, 2Lt. Begie
de Jesus, 1Lt. Bryan Villena, 1Lt. Rogie Munos, Sgt. Joel Manalo, Sgt. Rogelio
Baroro, Corporal Artemio Ubo, Ssg. Ronie Dador, at Sgt. Maurino Mohammad.
Ayon
kay Brigadier General Centino, ang ginawang pagbibigay parangal ay parte ng
selebrasyon ng 401st Brigade sa kanilang mga matagumpay na pagsasawa ng
kanilang misyon sa kanilang area of responsibility.
Hinimok
din ni Major General Villanueva ang mga local government units at local chief
executives na tulungan at suportahan sila sa kampanya laban terorismo at mas
lalo pang paigtingin ang implementasyon ng mga programa at serbisyo ng gobyerno
at maiparating ito sa ibat-ibang komunidad ng rehiyon lalung-lalo na sa liblib
na lugar kung saan ang karamihan sa mga naninirahan dito ay sinasamantala ng
mga teroristang npa na sumanib sa kanilang grupo. (PIA-Caraga)
