Starting 2017, Starting next year, the Department of Health (DOH) will give out condoms in schools amid the rise of HIV and AIDS cases among the youth.
This plan is part of the “business unusual” strategy pf DOH which urges parents and teachers to teach safe sex to young people.
“As soon as we thresh out the strategy with the Department of Education (DepEd), we can distribute condoms after providing them proper counselling,” Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said in a press conference for the World AIDS Day 2016.
“Of course, we also have to prepare the school authorities, teachers, principals, healthcare providers,” Ubial said.
Data show that from 1984 to October 2016, a total of 38,114 HIV cases were recorded, with 32,099 tallied from 2011 to 2016. Among 15 to 24-years-olds, there were 10,279 HIV cases during the period, of which 9,066 were tallied since 2011, Inquirer reported.
Alarmed by the rising HIV/AIDS cases, the head of the Episcopal Commission on Health Care of the Catholic bishops conference urged the youth to do their part in educating the public on the occasion of the World AIDS Day.
“The cases rose, especially for those aged 15 to 24 years old. They are [our] future, our high school and college students,” said Fr. Dan Cancino, the commission’s executive secretary.
On Radio Veritas, he invited the youth to join on Dec. 4 the National Catholic AIDS Sunday, which is celebrated every first Sunday of December to raise public awareness on HIV/AIDS.
“This is a day for us to increase our knowledge and awareness, especially the youth, on the global problem of HIV/AIDS,” Cancino said.
An awareness conference will be held on Sunday at the Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord on the fifth floor of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.
