US Monitoring AIDS Growth Rate in Philippines, Says USAID

The number of HIV cases is still small in the Philippines, but the growth rate of new infections is problematic, the mission director of US Agency for International Development said recently. USAID is closely monitoring the situation and working with the government to prevent HIV's further spread, said Gloria D. Steele.

Generally, HIV infections in the Philippines are concentrated among injection drug users and men who have sex with men, Steele said. USAID is coordinating with the Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) to contain the virus. Between 2008 and 2010, USAID allocated $85.8 million for health projects in the Philippines, including for HIV/AIDS.

The Philippines continues to lag behind the Millennium Development Goal of halting and reversing the spread of HIV by 2015, said Teresita Marie Bagasao, the UNAIDS country coordinator. Data confirmed by DOH show new infections are increasing. And UNAIDS says the Philippines is one of just seven countries reporting a 25 percent or greater rise in new HIV cases from 2001 to 2009. In Asia, only the Philippines and Bangladesh saw an increase in new HIV infections.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.


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