The Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital (OMPH) is now providing free HIV self-testing kits to residents who may be uncomfortable visiting health facilities, in an effort to combat the Philippines’ mounting HIV crisis.

The Provincial Health Office (PHO) of Oriental Mindoro has announced that the facility is now fully operational, providing faster and more reliable HIV diagnosis services to residents across the province.

The new diagnostic capability comes as the Department of Health reports an average of 56-57 new HIV cases daily nationwide, representing an enormous increase from previous years.

The DOH has proposed declaring HIV a national public health emergency amid a 500-percent increase in cases among the country’s youth, stressing the urgency of expanding testing and treatment services to underserved areas like Oriental Mindoro.

PHO Head Dr. Cielo Angela A. Ante cited the critical importance of the new facility in addressing the growing health menace.

The laboratory enables immediate confirmatory testing, eliminating delays that previously required samples to be sent to Manila-based facilities.

The PHO is promoting comprehensive HIV prevention measures, including the use of condoms, lubricants, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Free testing and treatment services are available to all residents.

For individuals uncomfortable visiting HIV facilities, the province has made HIV self-testing kits available, addressing barriers to testing that health officials identify as contributing factors to late diagnoses.

Provincial health officials are encouraging residents to consult with healthcare workers about HIV prevention and testing. The facility can be reached at (043) 288-7672 for additional information about services and appointments.

The Philippines remains one of the countries with the fastest increasing numbers of HIV cases in the Asia Pacific Region.

Close to half or 46 percent of new cases in March 2024 were aged 25 to 34, while almost a third or 31 percent were among youth ages 15 to 24.

From 2012 to 2023, there was a 411% increase in daily incidence, with health officials expressing particular worry about late presentation in care.

Twenty-nine percent of new confirmed HIV cases in January 2023 had clinical manifestations of advanced HIV disease at the time of diagnosis.

The epidemic disproportionately affects men who have sex with men, according to health data, though cases are rising across demographic groups.

Health officials stress that early detection and treatment are crucial for managing HIV and preventing transmission, making accessible diagnostic services essential for controlling the epidemic’s spread in island provinces like Oriental and Occidental Mindoro.

File photo is courtesy of AIDSmap (for illustration purposes only)