ILOILO CITY: Alarmed that nine Human Immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) cases were reported each in the region, the Department of Health regional office admitted facing adverse challenges in meeting the target of Zero on Acute Immunity Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) by 2015.

Charity Perea, Health department regional HIV-AIDS coordinator, said that with barely three years left in the country’s commitment to halt and reverse the spread of HIV and AIDS, the country is at a critical stage in its response and gravely challenged by the rapidly accelerating rateof infection.

Perea said that there are now 223 persons living with HIV in Western Visayas from May 1994 to December 2011. Iloilo City has the most number of cases with a total 99 cases, 19 new cases and 20 deaths. Negros Occidental province follows with 78 cases, 13 new and 17 deaths, Aklan province with 25 cases, two new and five deaths, Capiz with 12 cases, three new and two deaths; Antique with five cases, one new and one death and Guimaras with four cases, one new and zero death.

The HIV-AIDS coordinator said that the disease is alarming because Western Visayas was identified as a mega region for tourism and a top region with the most number of maritime schools.

In 2011, the average new cases a day is six to seven, while in 2012, the average case has increased significantly into nine cases a day. The highest reporting regions are the national capital region, Region 4A and Region 7.

The Philippines is one of only seven countries in the world with increasing HIV cases because of at risk behaviors brought about by sex workers who may have multiple sex partners, males having sex with males, injecting drug users and clients with paid sex workers.

Of the total number of cases in the region, overseas Filipino workers or OFWs formed 36 percent of affected or 80 cases with HIV-AIDS and 64 percent or 143 cases are those infected locally.

Others identified with HIV are eight waiters and bar tenders, 17 housewives, five students, 12 call center agents, four tourist guides, five businessmen, four teachers, one lawyer, four medical doctors, 16 nurses, three med-techs, two x-ray techs, five med reps., four drivers, two nautical graduates, two security guards, eight office employees, nine self-employed, three local entertainers, three freelance CSWs, two engineers, two fashion designers, two event organizers, one hotel employee, one social worker, five hairstylists and beauticians, three florists, two dance instructors, one policeman, one mediaman, three ITs, one sales clerk, one fast food manager and one grocery bagger.