As the Inauguration of UNAIDS Day Takes Place AIDS: A Matter of Concern [Archives:2001/08/Health]

HIV is the virus causing AIDS, the ever dangerous disease. If such a virus enter the body it starts destroying the immunity system gradually. Consequently, infected person won’t be able to resist any bacteria or whatsoever that may affect his body.
AIDS is the last phase of infection. The word AIDS is an abbreviation of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. The WHO celebrates the international day for fighting AIDS. An annual report is being issued pertaining to this issue emphasizing the hazards of this disease and ways of protection. The virus is transferred through the sexual intercourse in all its forms, through blood transfer, surgical instruments, teeth brush, etc.
90% of the virus is being transferred through sexual intercourse. The report also revealed that every day 22,000 persons are being infected by this disease. People carry the virus for ten years before developing the symptoms of AIDS.

In 1999 and during the first quarter of 2000, UNAIDS and WHO worked closely with national governments and research institutions to recalculate current estimates on people living with HIV/AIDS. These calculations are based on the previously estimates for 1997 and recent trends in HIV/AIDS surveillance in various populations. A methodology developed in collaboration with international experts was used to calculate the new estimates on prevalence and incidence of HIV and AIDS deaths, as well as the number of children infected through mother to child transmission of HIV. Different approaches are used to estimate HIV prevalence in countries with low-level, concentrated or generalized epidemics. The current estimates do not claim to be an exact count of infections. Rather they use a methodology that has thus far proved accurate on producing estimates that give a good indication of the magnitude of the epidemic in individual countries. However, these estimates are constantly being revised as countries improve their surveillance systems and collect more information.
In Yemen, information on the current status of HIV prevalence is limited. In 1988, 5 percent of six workers tested in one site were HIV positive. Among STD clinic patients, HIV prevalence among patients tested increased from 2 percent in 1993 to 5 percent in 1997. In 1998, 3 percent of STD clinic patients tested were HIV positive.
We are looking forward to seeing the fruits and hard work of the UNAID programs so as to prevent any further sufferings in our country.


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