…blames DOH for increase in number of HIV/AIDS cases
MANILA, Philippines - The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) today warned the Department of Health (DOH) against doing its usual practice, distributing condoms during Valentine’s Day.
In a report from CBCP News, CBCP Commission on Family and Life executive secretary Melvin Castro said giving out free condoms on that day would send the wrong information to the youth that there is nothing wrong with pre-marital sex.
“We should (instead) impart the right message to the people particularly the youth which is faithfulness within the marriage or if they are not yet married, total abstention,” Castro said.
The same thing happened again last year, which the Church had publicly condemned.
Health officials, however, said the distribution of free condoms does not promote contraception. It sought prevent HIV and AIDS, they said.
Castro said the solution is to promote voluntary testing among those with sexually active lifestyles.
“So they’ll be aware if they are already a carrier of HIV,” Castro said
The CBCP official also blamed the DOH for the increase in the number of HIV/AIDS cases in the country.
The National HIV and AIDS Registry has listed 6,015 cases in the country, including the 174 new infections diagnosed in December.
Castro said it was the idea of “safe sex” that, in fact, pushed people to engage in irresponsible sex.
“Why did the figures increase in 2010? When did they distribute condoms? It was in 2010,” he said.