27 June 2011
MUSCAT -- The Ministry of Health, along with the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) in Oman and the World Bank, recently held discussions on the preparations of studies on HIV/Aids in the Sultanate.
Following the successful launch and implementation of the Oman National Response to HIV/Aids Strategy by the multi-sectoral National HIV/Aids Committee in 2007, national authorities conducted joint meetings and discussions with Unicef Oman and the World Bank on issues related to the progression in scaling up prevention programmes and improving the care provided to patients and their families.
Other areas of concern were also addressed which are relevant to better understanding the current situation with HIV/Aids in the Sultanate. The team also had an opportunity to meet with high-level government officials and key stakeholders.
Dr Laila Gad, Unicef Oman Representative stated, "This initiative follows years of analysis and research into the various components which encompass the main drawbacks of such a complex virus. The Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Study, also known as the KAP study, will pave the way for a national-level mapping exercise to support Oman's National Response to HIV/Aids Strategy."
On the occasion, Dr Majdi H al Toukhi, Senior Health Specialist at the World Bank, commented, "The study will focus on people living with HIV/Aids as opposed to only obtaining the numbers, statistics and causes. Our main objective at this point is the response counselling and aftercare for those infected and/or affected by the virus in Oman especially among women, children and youths. Our meetings and discussions with the stakeholders so far have emphasised on the need to further reinforce the capacities and capabilities within the existing systems and strategies in place."
Samir Anouti, Regional HIV/Aids Adviser for Unicef said, "The study's focus on the promotion and development of a supporting environment will help facilitate the participation of key stakeholders in the National Response to HIV/Aids. This will also encourage participation of religious institutions by increasing the involvement of people living with HIV/Aids." He added, "The mapping exercise of high-risk groups will help us establish an HIV/Aids resource database containing comprehensive bio-behavioural data and research report with evidence-based recommendations."
According to the National Response to HIV/Aids Strategy document and previous studies, the major challenges that lie ahead for the Sultanate include scaling up prevention programmes, HIV spread among young people, scaling up treatment programmes providing life-prolonging antiretroviral (ARV) therapy, addressing the female face of the epidemic, provision of social care to Aids victims and tackling stigma and discrimination.
The National Aids Programme in the Sultanate of Oman has utilised to the fullest extent the comparative advantages of the Ministry of Health and its co-partners in the development of the national response to HIV/Aids through the available structures in the different governorates and regions.
MUSCAT -- The Ministry of Health, along with the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) in Oman and the World Bank, recently held discussions on the preparations of studies on HIV/Aids in the Sultanate.
Following the successful launch and implementation of the Oman National Response to HIV/Aids Strategy by the multi-sectoral National HIV/Aids Committee in 2007, national authorities conducted joint meetings and discussions with Unicef Oman and the World Bank on issues related to the progression in scaling up prevention programmes and improving the care provided to patients and their families.
Other areas of concern were also addressed which are relevant to better understanding the current situation with HIV/Aids in the Sultanate. The team also had an opportunity to meet with high-level government officials and key stakeholders.
Dr Laila Gad, Unicef Oman Representative stated, "This initiative follows years of analysis and research into the various components which encompass the main drawbacks of such a complex virus. The Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Study, also known as the KAP study, will pave the way for a national-level mapping exercise to support Oman's National Response to HIV/Aids Strategy."
On the occasion, Dr Majdi H al Toukhi, Senior Health Specialist at the World Bank, commented, "The study will focus on people living with HIV/Aids as opposed to only obtaining the numbers, statistics and causes. Our main objective at this point is the response counselling and aftercare for those infected and/or affected by the virus in Oman especially among women, children and youths. Our meetings and discussions with the stakeholders so far have emphasised on the need to further reinforce the capacities and capabilities within the existing systems and strategies in place."
Samir Anouti, Regional HIV/Aids Adviser for Unicef said, "The study's focus on the promotion and development of a supporting environment will help facilitate the participation of key stakeholders in the National Response to HIV/Aids. This will also encourage participation of religious institutions by increasing the involvement of people living with HIV/Aids." He added, "The mapping exercise of high-risk groups will help us establish an HIV/Aids resource database containing comprehensive bio-behavioural data and research report with evidence-based recommendations."
According to the National Response to HIV/Aids Strategy document and previous studies, the major challenges that lie ahead for the Sultanate include scaling up prevention programmes, HIV spread among young people, scaling up treatment programmes providing life-prolonging antiretroviral (ARV) therapy, addressing the female face of the epidemic, provision of social care to Aids victims and tackling stigma and discrimination.
The National Aids Programme in the Sultanate of Oman has utilised to the fullest extent the comparative advantages of the Ministry of Health and its co-partners in the development of the national response to HIV/Aids through the available structures in the different governorates and regions.
© Oman Daily Observer 2011
