AIDS levels in Gulf Cooperation Council countries are at a minimum compared to other countries in the east of the Mediterranean, an official from the Council of GCC Health Ministers said on Monday.
“The rate of AIDS in the GCC countries is 1.95 per 100,000 people,” Tawfiq Khoja, director general of the council’s executive office said in a statement to mark World AIDS Day, which falls on Wednesday.
According to a study from the World Health Organization in 2007, more than 33.4 million people in the world are HIV positive, including 2.5 million who have recently contracted the disease.
The study put AIDS-related deaths at 2.1 million, while the most affected region is Africa, accounting for 68 percent of the total number of cases in the world.
“Many unhygienic habits have to be stopped to bring the disease under control,” Khoja said, adding that fears of the disease spreading in the GCC region is attributed to some undesirable behavior among some sections of the population.
Khoja said some of the causes of the disease in the Gulf region included an insufficient knowledge about HIV and AIDS, high rate of migration and movement of people to cities, and increased hypodermic drug use, in addition to expatriates from high-risk countries seeking jobs in the region.
“Given the magnitude of the problem, the issue should be dealt with by all sections of society and establishments. It is the responsibility of each individual to protect society from the spread of the disease,” he said.
“Concerted efforts should be made by all with planning, education and awareness about the prevention and treatment of the disease,” he added.
Khoja pointed out that strategies adopted by the ministries of health in the GCC to combat AIDS include a decision to stop importing blood from abroad and surveillance and comprehensive medical examination of all employees coming to work in the GCC countries.
The strategy also includes intensified awareness campaigns among citizens.
He also stressed the need for strengthening religious values against illegal sexual relations, especially among young people, apart from conducting awareness campaigns about how its transmission could be avoided.
The strategy also includes steps to eliminate any social stigma and isolation against patients.
He added that procedures for those who volunteer for AIDS checkups have also been simplified. Those who intend to marry should also undergo tests to check for contagious diseases, including AIDS.
MAHER ABBAS
ARAB NEWS