Statistics shows increasing AIDS cases in Yemen [Archives:2007/1108/Local News]
Fatima Al-Ajel
SANA'A, Dec. 2 ) The National AIDS Program in the Ministry of Health reports that AIDS cases in Yemen are increasing; according to latest statistics, in June of this year the number of AIDS cases reached 2,890.
Because of the increased number of AIDS cases in Yemen, many workshops and camps were arranged in many governorates to highlight the danger and negative effects of AIDS, especially among youth, who face tragic ends if infected with AIDS.
In Aden, the Woman's Sustainable Development Association organized a three-day training course about the danger of AIDS to 20 women from civil society organizations. The course provided participants with scientific knowledge and practical applications, defining AIDS, ways to get infected, protection against it and the role of woman and societies in enlightening society about this disease.
Dhamar is another governorate which celebrates World AIDS Day. The National Association for Combating Aids (NACA), in cooperation with the Reproductive Health Program, organizes this week a joint enlightenment program on means of fighting AIDS. The program features a number of enlightening symposiums and lectures, among which is a discussion session on the role of state and local bodies in combating the disease and boosting health enlightenment. It also includes field visits to a number of districts and quarters.
In a workshop held in Dhamar, National AIDS Program general manager Ahmad Al-Thabibi stated that behind each case there are about ten hidden cases, so the approximate AIDS statistic in Yemen is closer to 21,890 cases. Therefore, he called for medical checkups on foreigners and refugees who come to Yemen. “About 780 AIDS cases come from refugees entering Yemen, according to official statistics.” Al-Thabibi mentioned.
Dr. Nabil Abdul-Rab, the National AIDS Program coordinator in Aden, explained that lack of surveillance and reporting in Yemen has made it difficult to estimate the magnitude of HIV/AIDS in the country.
Most AIDS cases are registered while patients undergo routine medical checkups, when the cases are discovered. The National AIDS Program announced statistics for many governorates during the first half of this year, but these were not exact figures, according to Al-Thabibi.
According to the National AIDS Program, 20 cases were registered in Aden; most of the patients range from 20 to 49. Consequently, a large camp has begun for youth and citizens in Aden's poor areas, considered high-risk groups.
In Hadramout and Taiz, 13 cases were registered for each governorate. In Hadramout most patients were young men between 20 and 30 years old; the rest consisted of a foreigner, two children, and two women.
However, Raima hasn't registered any AIDS cases yet this year. Dr. Abdul-Aziz Al-Amri, the National AIDS Program coordinator in Raima, mentioned that Raima is considered the governorate with the lowest numbers of registered AIDS cases; the National AIDS Program registered only 8 patients for AIDS cases in Raima from 2004-2007.
The World AIDS Campaign slogan for 2001-2010 states, “Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise”. As part of the campaign, World AIDS Day 2007 will emphasize the theme of leadership.
For the first time in Yemen, Global Fund held a regional meeting in December 2006 and awarded Yemen with $14 million to fight AIDS as a step to raise community awareness about the tragedy awaiting AIDS patients.
HIV/AIDS specialists working in Yemen say actual figures are higher than those provided by the Ministry of Health. According to the ministry, as of last year there were 1,821 individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Yemen. At least 60 percent of the total was male, 44 percent were children and 45 percent were foreigners. However, the 2005 WHO report estimates the number of HIV/AIDS patients in Yemen at 11,600.
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