Many Pinoy youths believe they are ‘immune’ from AIDS.
Sun Star Daily Cebu
One of every five young adults believes he has “inherent” protection against the human immunodeficiency virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/Aids), an official of the health department said yesterday.
Eric Tayag, director of the National Epidemiology Center (NEC) of the health department, said in a forum on HIV/Aids in Makati City that such a view is extremely false.
“This is alarming because these lost generations might be those belonging to the productive years,” he said.
Tayag said a recent survey they conducted involving young adults aged 14 to 20 years old showed that 20 percent of them also believe that HIV and Aids could be transmitted through insect bites, using a toilet seat previously used by an infected person, contaminated water, and kissing.
He said the lack of funding to support the education and information campaign is one of the reasons there is low HIV/Aids awareness among young adults. He said the last information campaign against Aids that the government conducted was in 2003 yet.
“We already missed the new generation now and these are lost generations who are getting wrong information,” he said.
Another factor why young people have inadequate knowledge on HIV/Aids, Tayag said is the presence of destructive information as regards the disease posted on the Internet.
Records of the health department as of March 2006 showed that there are 2,434 Filipinos inflicted with HIV/Aids.
Edgar Chua, chairman of Pilipinas Shell, said the risk of HIV/Aids spreading in economic zones is high because it is where the bulk of those in the productive age are employed. He said it is important that companies should adopt a clear plan on how to fight HIV/Aids in the workplace.
“There is a clear and present danger because it’s growing and the risk is there,” he said.
Many Pinoy youths believe they are ‘immune’ from AIDS.
Originally Posted by who1
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