NAMES : ______________________________ SECTION: _______

______________________________
LO# ___
Health
Reading Activity: Recent news about HIV in the Phlippines

38 DAILY CASES OF HIV MAY AFFECT BLOOD SUPPLY QUALITY: GORDON

BY MA. TERESA MONTEMAYOR

MANILA -- Philippine Red Cross (PRC) chairperson and Senator Richard Gordon on Tuesday said the increasing
number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases this year could affect the supply of quality blood products
nationwide.

According to the Department of Health's (DOH) latest HIV registry, around 38 new cases of HIV are recorded daily
so far in 2019, a significant rise from the 32 new cases per day in 2018.

The DOH reported there were 1,172 new cases of HIV in March and 215 of them were already in the advanced
stage of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

To date, a total of 3,434 cases has been recorded by the department.

"I'm glad that Secretary (Francisco) Duque and I see eye to eye, the threat of HIV is not insurmountable but we have
to act on it quickly," Gordon said in a press briefing.

Gordon said the PRC is integrating a nucleic acid test (NAT) to its system to allow accurate detection of HIV
contraction among donors.
"NAT testing will reduce the Filipino population's exposure to HIV. Let us intensify our HIV prevention campaign
through peer education," he added.

Philippine Blood Coordinating Council president Gary Ong, who was also in the press briefing, reiterated the
importance of healthy lifestyle among the donors to ensure the availability of safe blood products for all those in
need of blood transfusion.

Ong said those who are interested to donate blood must at least be 16 to 65 years old, weighs at least 50 kilos,
physically and mentally fit, must have 125 grams per liter hemoglobin for females and 135 grams per liter hemoglobin
for males, and must not have high blood pressure and diabetes.

"If you're practicing high-risk behavior like multiple sex partners, men having sex with men, drug use and abuse,
please avert from donating blood," he added.

The PRC has 93 blood service facilities which include 27 blood centers, 66 blood collecting stations, and 11
apheresis centers.
It has established new facilities in Albay, Bogo, Mountain Province, and Calamba. (PNA)

ARE YOU FINISH? YOU’RE DOING GREAT!!! NOW THAT YOUR FINISH READING THE ARTICLE, LET’S
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING. (DON’T WORRY YOU CAN ALWAYS GO BACK AND READ THE NEWS ARTICLE
TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS)
Guide Questions:
1. What is the article about? __________________________
2. Draw a box on the numbers you see in the article. What is the significance of that number?
_________________________
3. What is the importance of blood in our body? _________________________
4. If you want to donate blood, what should a person have?
5. How do you think does HIV affects the blood supply of the country? Give your opinion.