UAE | Health
Residents call for AIDS awareness
The UAE has about 1,000 cases of HIV, according to a World Health Organisation report. A cross-section of people - including many youngsters - interviewed by Gulf News said this figure could remain static or even come down if sex education is made a compulsory part of the academic curriculum.
- By Sunita Menon, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 October 9, 2004
If you want to reduce the risk, catch 'em young.
This sounds more like business jargon but that's what communities in the UAE feel about the right strategy to counter the menace of AIDS before it spins out of control.
The UAE has about 1,000 cases of HIV, according to a World Health Organisation report. A cross-section of people - including many youngsters - interviewed by Gulf News said this figure could remain static or even come down if sex education is made a compulsory part of the academic curriculum.
They also said more awareness needs to be raised to curb the spread of the deadly virus that leads to AIDS.
The Ministry of Health has already gone on record urging people travelling abroad to be aware of the risks of sexually-transmitted diseases such as HIV.
But the statistics the first estimate of its kind in this region translates into one HIV-positive case for every 4,000 people here, and residents feel more needs to be done to tackle the syndrome. Worldwide, AIDS is threatening to take the shapes of an epidemic.
Many felt that an ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure and hence the authorities should be more vocal in its AIDS awareness campaigns, particularly those targeting youngsters.
Ashish Dham, an Indian sales executive, felt that a massive awareness campaign is vital considering the various nationalities who live in the UAE.
"I read about the WHO report and frankly speaking I was not at all shocked. Here we have so many cultures living together, not to speak of an increasing number of tourists who are coming every week.
"Also, the UAE is a commercial hub. As far as I understand awareness campaigns on AIDS are going on worldwide, and we need the same degree of awareness here. It is just not happening in the manner in which it should, specially in Dubai," he said.
Zinobia, an Indian student who is staying here, was of the opinion that it is high time sex education is made part of high school lectures.
"But I would like to add that one does not necessary contract HIV and AIDS just by unsafe physical intimacy. There are several other reasons. One among them is through blood transfusion.
"But, yes, I do agree that the syndrome is now become a global phenomenon. This makes it all the more necessary to be more open about AIDS."
"I have come across teenagers who think getting into physical relation is cool. Dating has become rampant among school and college students. Given the situation, why not get people educated on what is dangerous... after that, it's up to the individual whether to play it safe or not," she said.
Sebastian Koreneff, a Finn who works as a partner in Hansaworld Middle East, however, was of the opinion that awareness on the issue is already gaining momentum.
"I am aware that the UAE is a cultural melting pot, where we need to keep in mind regional sensitivities. But I am sure the government has found the right way to tackle awareness on AIDS."
Salma Jaber, an Egyptian college student from Sharjah, highlighted the importance of open communication between parents and children. This, she said, could play a major role in curbing the spread of HIV in the UAE.
"I had sex education in school. To a certain extent, even our parents were open to the subject. I am Muslim and I am not at all ashamed or embarrassed to talk about it, because AIDS is a bomb waiting to explode," she said.
Jeffrey Kwang, a Singaporean sales director working in Dubai, said: "Even one AIDS case is enough to send the alarm bells ringing. In Singapore, the government has taken all the restrictions and started awareness campaigns. I do not know about here. I have not heard much," he said.
Gladys Paguia, a Filipina project controller from Dubai, feels that the society is very cautions to talk about the subject of the deadly syndrome.
"Issues such as this should be made more public. The authorities should not hesitate to put out the statistics, if there are any, to the public. That's when it will hit home. Everything is kept under the carpet, how are the people to know that there is a threat looming large.
"I did come across some brochures on the subject, but that's it. The best thing is to get youngsters involved in the awareness campaign," she said.
Hassan Al Jasmi, a UAE national working with Thuraya, felt that the government is doing its utmost to spread awareness on the issue.
"I think sex education is there in the secondary level. Teenagers today are very adventurous and are ready to try out everything.
"The more you tell them to refrain from certain things, the more they will be eager to try it out. Our country is very open, but the the responsibility also lies with the parents," he said.
Gareth Jay, a South African, believed that compared to South Africa, the problem of AIDS is not that rampant in the UAE.
"In South Africa the situation is alarmingly worse. We do have sex education but still the number of HIV-positive cases is on the rise. Over here, I feel the situation can be controlled since the number of cases are quite less," he said.
Ahmad Abdul Noor a Qatari businessman, said: "My wife and me take time out from our busy schedule to sit and discuss on how to educate our children on the issue. The world today has shrunk.
"As parents, we have to be more open to our children, otherwise they could fall an easy prey to all the bad things happening in the society. Sex education, I feel, is a must in schools," he said.
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