A 12-year-old child from Palawan is now the youngest recorded Filipino to test positive for HIV, as the Department of Health (DOH) warned of a massive surge in infections among Gen Z.
From January to March this year alone, the country logged 57 new HIV cases daily, a staggering 500% jump among Filipinos aged 15 to 25 years old, according to the DOH.
Health Secretary Ted Herbosa is now urging the government to declare a National Public Health Emergency to mobilize all agencies and communities in fighting the growing HIV crisis.
“Ang maganda, magkaroon tayo ng public health emergency… para magtulungan ang buong lipunan,” Herbosa said. “The whole of society, the whole of government can help us in this campaign.”
The DOH said the predominant age group of Filipinos with HIV used to be 35 to 49 years old in the early 2000s. That has now shifted to 25 to 34 years old, and more recently, to those in their teens and early 20s.
If left unchecked, Herbosa warned the number of Filipinos living with HIV may surpass 400,000 in the coming years. As of 2024, there are already more than 215,000 known cases.
Most transmissions still happen through sexual contact, with a growing number of cases among males who have sex with males (MSM).
The DOH is pushing to normalize HIV testing, which is free and confidential in public health centers. Self-test kits can also be accessed through pharmacies or organizations like LoveYourself Inc., which offer free kits, counselling, and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).
Sexually active individuals are reminded to practice safe sex using condoms, lubricants, and PrEP.
Those already living with HIV are urged to take antiretroviral therapy (ART), a treatment covered by PhilHealth.
Earlier this year, the United States pulled out its financial aid for the Philippines’ fight against HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Still, the DOH assured the public it has sufficient local funding to keep its programs going.
“Life goes on for people with HIV,” Herbosa said, emphasizing that early testing and treatment remain key to survival and quality of life.
