OFWs linked to fresh surge of HIV, AIDS cases



By: Romsanne Ortiguero
InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines – Returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) are increasingly being linked to the rising incidence of HIV/AIDS cases, and some worried lawmakers are entertaining the idea of requiring blood tests to curb the risk to their families.
Party-list Rep. Arnel Ty discussed the recent case surge in an interview on Radyo Singko’s Punto Asintado, hosted by Erwin Tulfo and Martin Andanar.
Last month, the National Epidemiology Center of the Department of Health reported 290 new cases of HIV, and the numbers continue to rise.
Several congressmen are urgently pushing House Bill 5312 or the “AIDS Prevention and Control Law.” The bill authored by Representatives Arnel Ty (LPGMA), Bolet Banal (Quezon City), Isabel Climaco (Zamboanga City), Arlene Bag-ao (AKBAYAN) and Janette Garin (Iloilo), aims to prevent AIDS and amend the old AIDS Prevention and Control Law which is deemed inadequate to curb the spread of the disease.
The alarming increase in the number of Filipinos afflicted with the dreaded disease is associated with the practice of having multiple partners and unprotected sex. The data also revealed that AIDS-stricken OFWs are increasing in numbers. There is an assumption that balikbayan OFWs who are already carriers of the disease eventually pass it on to their families. The lack of blood testing for balikbayan is seen to contribute to the spread of the disease.
Currently, OFWs are usually required by prospective employers to undergo blood testing before they work overseas, but blood testing upon their return is not compulsory. OFWs who are not diagnosed with AIDS but are already carriers thus pass it on to their partners. This is why, Ty explained, they are pushing mandatory blood testing.

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