ARMM has 17 HIV positive patients

COTABATO CITY - The Department of Health in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) today reported that there are already 17 persons found to have been positive with the Human Immunodeficiency (HIV) to date.Dr. Kadil Sinolinding, regional health secretary, said most of the patients were from Maguindanao and all but one were males.ARMM is composed of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.He did not say how the virus were acquired by the patients.The viruscan be transmitted in the sexual fluids, blood or breast milk of an infected person. HIV prevention involves a wide range of activities including prevention of mother-to-child transmission, a stop to use of illegadrug through injection, and precautions for health care workers.Sinolinding advised the public to simply practice the ABCDE of HIV prevention being pushed by the Department of Health.He said avoiding AIDS is as easy as…A means Abstain, B for Befaithful, C for the use of condom, D for don't use drugs and E for Education.Since 1984, DOH has recorded22,018 cases. Of this number, 1,101 have died.