Campaign to Remove AIDS Misconceptions

The campaign being launched regionally today to mark World AIDS Day is titled "Universal Access and Human Rights" and it promotes the concept of "I am" --w a human living with the disease.

"People living with HIV, too often find themselves denied their rights -- marginalised, denied a job, denied health care, denied the right to get married and have children, and with no scientific or medical grounds for such discriminatory treatment," says Dr Hussein Al Gezairy, director for World Health Organization's (WHO) regional office in a message.

"The truth is that many of our societies have failed to address such breaches of the rights of people living with HIV," he says.

The director says that the message to be put across through this year's awareness campaign reflects the need to protect human rights and ensure access for all to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

A study carried out in the UAE in 2005 among Arab youth showed that knowledge about the disease was alarmingly low. Researchers found that fear and intolerant attitudes towards persons living with HIV were also high.

Meanwhile, a recently released Aids Epidemic Update by UNAids and the WHO has pointed out that acute shortage of timely and reliable epidemiological and behavioural data has made it difficult to obtain a clear picture of the state of the epidemic in the Middle East and North Africa.

According to figures released by the UAE's National AIDs Programme in March-November 2008 to the World Health Organisation's regional office, the country currently has 35 advanced HIV infected cases with only three being reported last year.

The statistics also highlight that 59 adults and children with advanced HIV infection are receiving antiretroviral treatment that includes use of three drugs to suppress and stop the progress of the virus.

Though data on the total number of HIV positive cases UAE is unavailable, the regional health office has estimated that the infection remains low in the country mainly due to expanded HIV testing and counselling services.

Currently, 143 health facilities in the country offer confidential testing and counselling to national patients. The UAE is also among the world's remaining 59 countries that by law either deport or ban stay/entry of HIV positive expatriates in the country.

However, quoting an assessment report of the drug/HIV situation and response in the MENA region for 2008, the WHO says that UAE has an estimated 5,000 intravenous drug users in the country.

"Epidemics in the Middle East and North Africa are largely concentrated among injecting drug users, men who have sex with men and sex workers and their clients," according to the AIDS epidemic update. "Although the epidemics in the region do not compare with those in sub-Saharan Africa, there is a need to strengthen the AIDS response in the region," it adds.

Latest estimates point out that 35,000 people in the region became infected with HIV, and 20,000 AIDS-related deaths occurred. The total number of people living with HIV rose from 200,000 in 2001 to 310,000 in 2008.

The UAE ministry of health is currently chalking out strategies to prevent discrimination against people living with HIV at the workplace rather than stressing on education. A draft law in this regard is pending with the Federal National Council.

"We do hold regular educational and awareness programmes targeting university students," said Dr Nada Marzouqi, head of the National AIDS Programme.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.ae

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