Gov’t urged to shift strategy to address HIV/AIDS

A 2012 file photo shows Fr. Dan Cancino, executive secretary of the CBCP Commission on Health Care, speaks during a Catholic workshop on HIV/AIDS in Manila. ROY LAGARDE

MANILA— A Catholic expert on HIV/AIDS called on the government to take a more holistic approach in combatting the spread of the disease.

Fr. Dan Cansino, executive secretary of the bishops’ Commission on Health Care, said the Church has long argued that behavioural change is key to HIV/AIDS response.

“We hope that they will put premium in initiating behavioral change and values formation, especially among the youth, young adults, and out-of-school youths,” Cansino told Radio Veritas.

The CBCP official urged the government to give more attention to abstinence and the reduction of sexual partners rather than just focusing much on promoting the use of condoms.

“As long as we pad the strategies versus HIV, we can only expect the number of cases to continually increase,” he said.

The priest made the appeal amid a Health department report that the total HIV/AIDS cases in May has reached 1,000 mark for the first time in the country’s history.

According to the latest HIV and AIDS Registry of the Philippines (HARP) report, there are 1,098 new HIV cases recorded in May alone. CBCPNews