Medicine against HIV is useless without condoms

BY Paulo DS. Papa

THE Social Hygiene Clinic in Naga City advises individuals engaging in risky sexual activities to use condoms, emphasizing their necessity even with the availability of free pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) at government-run HIV treatment hubs.

Grace Guevara, a medical technologist at the clinic, explained that PrEP is a tablet-type medication that prevents the transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) when taken properly.

She noted that this medication is provided by the government to individuals whose partners are living with HIV, provided they test negative for the virus.

However, despite its accessibility at government-managed HIV treatment hubs, Guevara clarified that PrEP alone is insufficient to fully protect against HIV. She strongly advised the consistent use of condoms, which are also distributed free by the government.

From January to November this year, the clinic confirmed 149 new HIV-positive cases. This marks a significant increase compared to the 91 cases recorded during the same period last year.

Approximately 98% of the newly reported cases involve men who engaged in male-to-male sexual intercourse, had multiple sexual partners, or contracted the virus through mother-to-child transmission.

Meanwhile, 2% of the cases involve women, with their mode of infection kept confidential.