HIV awareness, care, and treatment are also needed among the active Filipino elders, according to the latest official data on the spread of HIV-AIDS in the country.
“Nalungkot ako nang malaman kong 166 sa 6,532 na natuklasang may HIV ay nasa edad 50 pataas. Ibayong tulong at kalinga ang kailangan nila,” Rep. Ron Salo. (KABAYAN Party-list), one of the principal authors of the proposed Philippine HIV-AIDS Policy Act, said.
Salo, a member also of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, was shocked to find out that two of the aged 50+ HIV positives are male OFWs and another two are female OFWs. “65 years old na babaeng OFW ang pinakamatandang may HIV. Aalamin ko sa DoH ang lagay niya upang matulungan ko sa pagpapagamot,” Salo said.
From January 2013 to July 2018, the number of HIV positives in the 50+ age group totalled 1,047.
“Nito palang nakaraang buwan ng Hulyo, 23 tao na edad 50+ ang nagpositibo sa HIV. Hindi lang mga kabataan ang maaaring maapektuhan ng malubhang sakit na ito,” Salo added.
Former DoH consultant Salo also asked the DoH to take special care of the seniors with HIV. “They should be enjoying retirement and old age with the grandchildren, not dealing with HIV-AIDS, so DoH should be extra sensitive with their senior patients undergoing treatment and counseling,” Rep. Salo, member of the bicameral conference committee ironing out the final version of the Philippine HIV-AIDS law, also said.