Gulf | Bahrain
Low figures of Aids victims may not reflect reality
A senior doctor yesterday sounded a grim warning against a dangerous complacency about the relatively low figures of Aids victims in Bahrain, saying that they might not reflect the real situation.
- By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief
- Published: 00:00 October 20, 2005
A senior doctor yesterday sounded a grim warning against a dangerous complacency about the relatively low figures of Aids victims in Bahrain, saying that they might not reflect the real situation.
"Official figures indicate that we have 23 Bahrainis living with Aids and 79 infected with the human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] which causes the disease," Dr Somaya Al Jowder, chairwoman of the National Sexually Transmitted Diseases Committee, yesterday told Gulf News.
"However, nobody should fall under the illusion that people in Bahrain are not threatened by the disease. We are sure that the number of the people who are carrying or who are infected by the disease is higher than the one we have in our official records. People are often too scared to come out and inform us about their cases or suspicions," she said.
"This means that many people may have Aids without being aware of it, particularly as symptoms can take a long time to show," she said.
Two of the Bahraini Aids patients are women who got the disease from their husbands without knowing about it, and about 70 per cent of the Aids cases in Bahrain are caused by drugs, Dr Somaya said.
"In order to address the issue, we are launching a national drive that we hope will increase people's awareness," she said.
"There are many misconceptions about Aids, and we hope that the survey will help determine people's perceptions. Hopefully, it will also help us understand the risks in the spread of the disease in Bahrain," UNDP project consultant Professor Mary Deeb said in comments about the national campaign.
CAMPAIGN
National survey to be held after Ramadan
More than 300 pregnant women and 600 drug addicts will be included in the national survey to be conducted after Ramadan.
About 2,300 intravenous drug users and youth aged between 15 and 24 will also be surveyed in the campaign to be conducted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Ministry of Health and the Bahrain Family Planning Association.
The UNDP hopes to use the survey to formulate and implement a national strategy on HIV-Aids.
News Editor's choice
-
6,000 cups and counting: Addicted to that tea
This cafeteria in Al Mamzar attracts thousands of customers daily, including the rich and not so rich
-
Swimming pool horror: Twins hospitalised
Twins rushed to hospital after collapsing from chlorine inhalation at swimming pool in their villa
-
Play your cards right with credit card interest
UAE Central Bank plans to cap interest rates, but are you paying thirty-five per cent now?
