A 7-year-old boy from South Cotabato has become the youngest among the 142 new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the province this year.
South Cotabato Integrated Provincial Health Office Disease Prevention and Control Unit chief John Arlo Codilla confirmed the case in a video posted on the official Facebook page of the provincial government.
Codilla added that they are looking at the possibility that the minor could have contracted the virus through sexual abuse or other factors, considering that they have ruled out a mother-child transmission.
“The mother is with us. We screened already. Non-reactive or negative siya in terms of testing,” he told Phil Star.
The recorded HIV data, which were compiled from January to September, tallied 97 males, and 13 females, including six who are pregnant. The majority of HIV cases belong to the 25- 34 age bracket, followed by those aged 15-24.
The Department of Health (DOH) recorded 5,583 new cases of HIV in the country in the third quarter of this year. Data from the HIV and AIDS Surveillance of the Philippines added that the figure is 22% higher than the number of cases recorded during the same period last year.
Cedilla assured that the identities of those who have undergone HIV testing and confirmed HIV patients are treated with confidentiality.
“Every test we conduct is secure and confidential. Our goal is to create a safe space where young people feel empowered to know their status.”
