Of all the Filipinos, OFWs are said to be the ones extremely vulnerable to HIV. Based on statistics, OFWs account for 32% of all our HIV and full-blown AIDS cases.

This is the reason why TUCP or Trade Union Congress of the Philippines is pushing for much more heightened awareness especially for foreign-bound Filipino workers. OFWs are said to be extremely vulnerable to HIV because once exposed to foreign cultures, thy have the tendency to put their guard down through unsafe sex practices especially sailors.

Based on DOH’s National AIDS Registry, we have a total of 3,951 HIV cases (1,254 for OFWs) as of June 2009. 815 (264 for OFWs) cases have already developed into full-blown AIDS cases and 314 have already died.

And the increase in HIV cases in Philippines is at an alarming and troublesome rate. 362 people were newly-infected in the first semester of this year, with 85 cases in May and 40 cases in June.

What is HIV?

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a lentivirus (a member of the retrovirus family) that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections.

The four major routes of transmission are unsafe sex, contaminated needles, breast milk, and transmission from an infected mother to her baby at birth (Vertical transmission).

HIV infection has basically four stages: incubation period, acute infection, latency stage and AIDS. The initial incubation period upon infection is asymptomatic and usually lasts between two and four weeks. The second stage, acute infection, which lasts an average of 28 days and can include symptoms such as fever, lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes), pharyngitis (sore throat), rash, myalgia (muscle pain), malaise, and mouth and esophageal sores. The latency stage, which occurs third, shows few or no symptoms and can last anywhere from two weeks to twenty years and beyond. AIDS, the fourth and final stage of HIV infection shows as symptoms of various opportunistic infections.

What is AIDS?

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

This condition progressively reduces the effectiveness of the immune system and leaves individuals susceptible to opportunistic infections and tumors.

The symptoms of AIDS are primarily the result of conditions that do not normally develop in individuals with healthy immune systems. Most of these conditions are infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites that are normally controlled by the elements of the immune system that HIV damages.

Opportunistic infections are common in people with AIDS. HIV affects nearly every organ system.

The sad reality is there is currently no vaccine or cure for HIV or AIDS.

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