MANILA,
Philippines— The new law on Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection and Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndrome would reverse the course of rising epidemic in the
country, the World Health Organization Philippines said.
WHO Philippines
hailed the passage of Republic Act 11166 or the HIV and AIDS Policy Act of
2018, which it said will aid in expanding access to evidence-based HIV
strategies and facilitate easier access to learning about one’s HIV status.
The organization
added that the measure provides free treatment to Filipinos living with HIV and
related illnesses.
“The WHO welcomes
the new law as it helps elevate attention to HIV/AIDS and address some of the
critical bottlenecks in the HIV programme in the Philippines,” it said in a
statement Friday.
President Rodrigo
Duterte signed the new law on HIV and AIDS last December 20 but it was only
disclosed to media early this week.
Supporters of the
measure said it would help put an end to the stigma on people living with HIV
or AIDS.
“We commend the
Philippines, including the Department of Health, HIV partners and advocates for
this new HIV law. It is a step in the right direction to reverse the tide of
the HIV epidemic and save the lives of many Filipinos,” WHO Philippines said.
Government data
showed a total of 8,533 cases of HIV infections, including 1,520 AIDS cases were
recorded in the first nine months of the year.
According to the
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, the Philippines has the fastest
growing HIV epidemic in the Asia-Pacific from 2010 to 2016.