HIV crisis in the Philippines: urgent actions needed

The Philippines is facing the fastest growing HIV epidemic in the western Pacific, with a 174% increase in HIV incidence between 2010 and 2017. There were 1047 new cases in August, 2018, alone.1 Although national HIV prevalence remains below 0·1%, men having sex with men are disproportionately affected, accounting for 84% of all new infections. UNAIDS estimates that only 67% of people living with HIV know their status, 55% have CD4 count lower than 200 cells/μL at the time of diagnosis, 32% are on antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 82% remain on ART 12 months after treatment initiation.