After National HIV Testing Week in the Philippines, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the region as the rfastest growing HIV epidemic in the world.
"The window of opportunity is fairly small and there's a few years, really, where intensive work needs to be done to bring this outbreak into control," WHO representative Julie Hall told Rappler.
The health department recorded 667 new cases in March, bringing the cumulative cases to 24,376 since the first reported case in 1984. Daily recorded new cases went from 17 in 2014 to 21 this year.
Halls is urging the country to ramp up its response and get the alarming HIV situation under control.
At present, the country is offering free HIV testing and counseling in social hygienic clinics but still needs to work out plans for more rural areas.
More funds are needed for testing and for the availability of free treatment, counseling, and condoms. A budget of P500 million ($11.21 million) was allocated by the health department's National HIV/STI Prevention Program wherein 60% will go to the treatment of patients.
