MUSCAT -- The Ministry of Health (MoH) is not upset over the slight increase in the number of HIV/Aids cases this year, instead, they consider it a positive trend as a result of the Let's Talk Aids awareness campaign to break the barrier of stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/Aids in the Sultanate, said an official of the ministry.
Comparatively, there has been a slight increase in the annual rate of incidents of Omanis diagnosed with HIV/Aids in MoH's registry from 116 incidents in 2009 to current figure of about 125 this year. "The increase is considered a positive trend in the fight against the stigma and discrimination associated with the disease due to the enhancement of health education activities at all levels", said Dr Ali Ahmed Salim Ba Omar (pictured), Head of HIV/Aids Section, MoH.
The increase is also due to the medical protocols of confidentiality of the results of tests and treatments and the use of records only for management purpose. The rise is also attributed to the availability and accessibility of health services and treatments in health institutions, which have encouraged individuals to voluntarily seek care to test and to know their HIV status, the official told the Observer in preparation of the observation of the World Aids Day (WAD) on December 20-21.
The activities will be held under the WAD's theme 'I Live my Rights, I Respect other People's Rights' with emphasis on providing access for all to HIV prevention, treatment and care as a critical part of human rights. As part of this year's central concern for the global HIV response, the global community will focus attention on protecting human rights of all people affected by HIV, remarked Dr Ba Omar.
In this context, in observation of the WAD, the MoH with the joint effort of several government and private sector organisations will conduct a series of activities to mark the occasion.
They include a walkathon from the InterContinental Hotel to Qurum Natural Park and a two days' exhibition of products and sports activities like skilled bicycle show and free style.
Also on agenda includes quiz contests for children and adults alike, painting, theatre stage, documentary film, folklore performance and children's games among many other attractions.
In addition, lectures and presentations will be held on December 28 to showcase the current 2008-2011 National Response Strategy for HIV/Aids campaign efforts to prevent the prevalence of new cases and to enhance awareness about this disease.
The ministry will also present the results of the 2009-2010 Let's Talk Aids campaign in addressing the problem of HIV/Aids in the community, he said.
According to the ministry's Annual Health Report (AHR) -- 2009, there were about 1,376 registered cases of Omanis living with HIV/Aids infection.
Of the entire figure, about 75 per cent of people living with this disease are men and 25 per cent of the figure are women. The annual number of children born or diagnosed with HIV infection ranges from one to three cases annually.
However, to prevent the mother to child cross infection of the disease, the MoH conducts HIV screening tests in all pregnant women and provides anti retrovirus treatment to infected mothers and their offsprings in very early stage to strengthen their immune systems.
The drug is also effective in protecting a new born baby of an infected mother from contracting the disease only if significant precautionary measures are seriously taken into considerations in spite of the fact that there is no permanent cure to HIV infection.
The ministry's AHR also indicate an accumulative incident of 26 deaths due to Aids last year of which 17 cases were registered over the previous years and only nine deaths of cases were recorded in 2009.
The death of involved cases included patients afflicted with fully blown Aids infection and due to overdose among some HIV infected drug addicts who after rehabilitation relapse the menace. The death of such HIV infected drug addicts particularly occurs when an addict relapses and out of ignorance takes a huge dose of the psychotropic drug that used to provide him the feeling of satisfaction, said Dr Ba Omar who is also head of Al Hayat Association that is dedicated to raise awareness on all forms of drug and substance abuse.
The ministry also provides healthcare and psychological services to people affected with HIV/Aids by allocating specialised doctors at the referential hospitals responsible for their treatment.
This, has resulted to the improvement of the health of people living with the disease besides the counselling support they get.
© Oman Daily Observer 2010
