Gaane airs concern over increase in HIV cases

COUNCILOR Maria Lourdes Gaane, chair of the City Council committee on health and sanitation and health insurance, expressed alarm over the increase in cases of HIV and AIDS in country, especially in the Cagayan de Oro City.

During the weekly radio program “Ang Konseho Karon: Mover of Change and City’s Development” with Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya, Councilor Gaane said an average of 30 people per day are affected by HIV and AIDS in the country, based on the report of the Department of Health (DOH).

Councilor Gaane informed the public that the HIV virus will not be transmitted through handshaking or kissing an HIV positive.

She said Kagay-anons should be aware that HIV is caused by a virus. Once acquired, It will target the immune system, which will become AIDS if left untreated, she warned.

“So, kung gipasagdan nimo ang HIV, kay tungod naigo ang immune system ma suppress ang imong immune system ma-immunocompromise ka, mahimo na dayon siya’ng AIDS”, she explained.

If the immune system is weak that’s the time “opportunistic infections” will come in. These infections include pneumonia, tuberculosis, among others, she added.

“Ang victim dili mamatay sa AIDS, ang cause of death is usually the opportunistic infections”, she stressed.