Gulf | Saudi Arabia
Aids claimed lives of 588 Saudis, says ministry
There are 7,808 Aids sufferers in the Kingdom, of whom 1,743 are Saudis.
- By Mariam Al Hakeem, Correspondent
- Published: 00:00 November 25, 2004
At least 588 Saudis have died from Aids-related diseases, the Ministry of Health has announced.
There are 7,808 Aids sufferers in the Kingdom, of whom 1,743 are Saudis, the ministry said.
Nearly 82 per cent of those affected are men 15 to 49 years of age, said Dr Nasir Bin Saleh Al Khuzaim, assistant director-general for paediatrics and gastrointestinal diseases, and supervisor of the Department for Health Monitoring Centres at the ministry.
Nearly 95 per cent of the cases were the result of sexual contact. Jeddah tops other regions in the kingdom with 46 per cent of Saudis and 56 per cent of foreigners infected by the disease.
Some dental clinics, which are not taking adequate precautionary measures are also responsible for passing on the disease, he said.
Referring to Aids cases among foreigners, Dr Nasir Bin Saleh Al Khuzaim said 22 per cent of cases had been reported among prisoners.
“Another 22 per cent of cases had been detected when medical tests were conducted among patients with symptoms similar to the disease. The percentage of Aids cases detected during medical tests required for the issuing and renewal of residence permits were 10.5 and 19, respectively,” he said.
Dr Toufiq Khoujah, director-general of the GCC executive office, said Aids cases in the Gulf countries were the lowest in the region.
He said the spread of AIDS was slow in the area.
Khoujah said that Ministries of Health in the Gulf countries would follow a strategy of not importing blood from abroad and would promote health and religious awareness.
A World Health Organisation report last December showed that more than 42 million people worldwide have Aids and more than 28 million have died from it.
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