UAE recorded 35 cases of Aids last year

Sharjah: Thirty-five new cases of HIV/Aids were recorded in the UAE last year; 29 males and six females; putting the total number of cases documented in the country at 540, said Humaid Mohammad Obaid Al Qutami, Minister of Health.

Al Qutami said the government is taking necessary steps to curb the spread of Aids in the country and ensure ethical treatment of the afflicted.

"We are one of the Arab countries following the standards set by the World Health Organisation. These strategies include early diagnosis, ensuring suitable medication, working confidentially and spreading awareness about the causes and symptoms of AIDS through campaigns," said Al Qutami.

He said the ministry is working on drafting laws to protect the rights of people suffering from Aids.

The minister was a speaking at an Aids awareness session hosted at the Raddisson SAS Hotel, on Tuesday, ahead of World AIDS Day, which is observed on December 1 every year.

Organised by the Ministry of Health, the event was held under the theme 'Women, Take the Lead...Leaders, Keep the Promise: Stop Aids'.

Since its inception two decades ago, 40 million people have been affected by Aids. The disease has caused the death of 25 million people worldwide.

Khalid Alloush, Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme told Gulf News that a study conducted by the organisation this year revealed that proper awareness about the causes of Aids is low even within the medical community.

"This is a serious issue because if doctors are unaware about this deadly virus, progress in combating it would be very limited," Alloush noted.

"Thus there is need to increase awareness about this disease as it is one of the ten main causes of death internationally and the first reason for deaths in Africa."

He called for ethical treatment of individuals who are HIV positive.

"Such patients should be thought of as people with normal sicknesses and treated humanely because the transmission of AIDS virus to other people is very limited. We must not isolate them or fear to touch or work with them.

"In many instances, it is not the women's fault as they contract the disease from their husbands, but are still treated inhumanely. In some countries, people with Aids are rejected by their families and deprived of any financial support," added Alloush.

He added that the media, teachers and religious scholars should take the leading role in creating more awareness about causes and effects of Aids.

According to medical research, Aids virus, which has no cure and no vaccine, is transmitted from person to person through unsafe sex with an infected person; blood transfusion or organ transplant from an infected person; sharing contaminated needles and sharp piercing objects; or through an infected mother to her fetus during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Ahlam Saeed Al Lamki, an official from the General Women's Union, urged women to play a leading role in fighting the spread of the disease.

"Women should go for check-ups because if they carry the disease, it might also affect the children," said Al Lamki.

Some people who have Aids remain unaware of it.

Al Lamki pointed out that one-third of those affected are between the age of 10 to 24 and 50 per cent of those are women.

According to UAE law, couples getting married need to undergo an Aids test. The test can be done in most primary healthcare centres in the country.