A health worker takes blood samples of people who want to undertake voluntary  HIV testing at the University of the Philippines Manila. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

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Marilyn Cahatol

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17489141342741748914132051.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false" style="text-align:left">A health worker takes blood samples of people who want to undertake voluntary  HIV testing at the University of the Philippines Manila. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Department of Health urged authorities to make human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) a National Public Health Emergency, as its number of cases rose by 500% for individuals aging 15 to 25.</p><p>“Ang maganda, magkaroon tayo ng public health emergency, national emergency for HIV dahil magtutulong-tulong ang buong lipunan,” said Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.</p><p>“The whole of society, the whole of government can help us in this campaign na mapababa ng new cases of HIV,” he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2024/12/24/philippines-faces-alarming-rise-in-hiv-infections-0810">Philippines faces alarming rise in HIV infections</a></div><p>Approximately 57 newly diagnosed HIV cases are recorded per day from January to March this year, said the agency, making the Philippines the highest in the Western Pacific region in terms of new cases.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17489149529391748914950659.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2024/11/26/-remarkable-global-progress-hiv-cases-and-deaths-declining-1251">&#x27;Remarkable global progress&#x27;: HIV cases and deaths declining</a></div><p>This is more than twice the rate in 2014, at 21 cases per day.</p><p>DOH also said that the predominant age group infected by HIV shifted from 35-49 years old in 2002 to 2005, to 25-34 years old from 2006 onwards.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17489149839391748914982315.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>The youngest newly diagnosed HIV case was only 12 years old from Palawan, it noted.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2024/11/29/alarm-over-high-rate-of-hiv-infections-among-young-women-girls-0748">Alarm over high rate of HIV infections among young women, girls</a></div><p>“’Pag hindi po natin napigilan ang pagdami ng HIV, aabot tayo sa lampas 400,000 people living with HIV,” said Herbosa.</p><p>The Philippines logged a total of 215,00 individuals living with HIV in 2024. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/2/13/doh-logged-average-of-47-new-hiv-cases-per-day-in-q4-of-2024-1912">DOH logs 47 new HIV cases per day in Q4 of 2024</a></div><p>Based on DOH’s data, sexual contact remains the predominant mode of transmission of HIV in 2025, but has shifted to largely being among males having sex with males (MSM) since 2007.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17489150241791748915022530.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>The DOH encouraged the public to take an HIV test, assuring them that it is free and confidential.</p><p>Self-test kits are also available in the country.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/24/life-goes-on-for-persons-with-hiv-as-doh-wants-to-mainstream-hiv-testing-001">Life goes on for persons with HIV, as DOH wants to &#x27;mainstream&#x27; HIV testing</a></div><p>The agency also reminded sexually-active individuals to practice safe sex through the combination prevention method, which includes using condoms, lubricants, and taking Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) before the deed.</p><p>Aside from clinics and pharmacies, non-government organizations like Love Yourself Inc. also offer free HIV self-test kits, counselling, and PrEP.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8RnGHom9xWE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Individuals living with HIV are encouraged to consult medical professionals and take the antiretroviral therapy, which Herbosa said is covered by PhilHealth insurance.</p><p>In February this year, the United States has cut off the financial aid provided to the Philippines for combating HIV, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, malaria and tuberculosis.</p><p>DOH assured that it has enough funding to support local programs against HIV and AIDS.  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/12/doh-says-it-has-enough-money-for-hiv-aids-programs-despite-us-aid-freeze-1858">DOH identifying fund sources for HIV and AIDS programs after US aid freeze</a></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1V4XTg5x_Xw?si=bF22YFJoopvkj9L-" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>The Department of Health urged authorities to make human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) a National Public Health Emergency, as its number of cases rose by 500% for individuals aging 15 to 25.</p>

The Department of Health urged authorities to make human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) a National Public Health Emergency, as its number of cases rose by 500% for individuals aging 15 to 25.

HIV cases in PH rise by 500% among ages 15-25: DOH

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HIV cases in PH rise by 500% among ages 15-25: DOH

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 03, 2025 09:44 AM PHT

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Updated Jun 03, 2025 05:16 PM PHT

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