DOHA: Highlighting the lowest prevalence rates of HIV/Aids in the country, Qatar marked World Aids Day yesterday. This year also marked the 30th anniversary of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and a decline of 20 percent of new HIV cases compared to 1997, globally. The theme for this year's World Aids Campaign is "Stigma and discrimination in health care settings".
"Qatar's HIV/Aids infection rate is only 0.02 percent of the total population and 0.34 per 100,000 population aged between 15 and 24 years, according 2007 and 2009 data, respectively. Universal access to treatment and preventative services for HIV/Aids is available to nationals and non-nationals alike in Qatar," said Dr Sheikh Mohammad bin Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, Director of the Public Health Department, Supreme Council of Health (SCH).
In Qatar, there are 84 patients living with HIV infection. Since the start of the epidemic 260 patients were diagnosed with HIV infection. Half of those infected were nationals. Last year, six new cases of HIV infection were diagnosed. "All those patients who are alive are in good health and are followed up regularly at the clinics of HMC and are receiving treatment. Most of them enjoy a very healthy and productive life and some of them went on to getting married and having healthy children."
"The AIDS day is marked with the aim to promote awareness and education about the disease and to combat all forms of stigma and discrimination against Aids patients. Celebrations here are held in cooperation between SCH, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar University and the Social Rehabilitation Center. The activities include awareness-raising events and a number of seminars as well as TV and radio shows to talk about the disease and its nature and spread, and the role of family and community in helping people living with HIV. We also plan to have lessons on HIV in school curriculum, apart from teaching media officials and religious leaders on the disease," he said.
Though, HIV infection rates are declining world wide, the numbers of new HIV infections continue to rise in the Middle East and North Africa. The reasons for this rise include lack of awareness and high-risk sexual behaviour, in addition to the strong sense of stigma associated with HIV infection and the social discrimination against people living with HIV and their families.
Stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV occurs at all levels including the workplace, the society, the schools and even in the health care settings. This discrimination prevents people from coming forward for counselling and testing for HIV and getting the appropriate treatment that can save their lives and stop the transmission of the virus in the community.
"It is time that discrimination is eliminated and this should be led by the health care professionals and the rest of the community has to follow. Doctors, nurses and all other health professionals should not discriminate against people infected with HIV based on their infection," said Dr Abdul Lathif Al Khal, Head of Infectious Diseases Department and Member, National AIDS Committee.
"The virus is not transmitted by casual interaction and the infection is totally controllable with the current antiviral medications used for its treatment. In fact HIV has turned into a chronic disease that can be completely controlled by medications and patients can be expected to live normal life. Patients who are infected and are not on treatment are more likely to die than those who are on treatment and who are properly counseled by their doctors" he said.
"We plan to have much researches on HIV infection and the perceptions of the people here. Over the next few months we will have much researches that will also focus on human rights and social support that HIV patients get here," said Dr Abdallah M Badahdah, Associate Professor of Sociology, Head of Social Sciences Department, Qatar University.
© The Peninsula 2011
