JEDDAH, 1 December 2004 — The three-day AIDS conference, which concluded on Monday, drew attention to the International AIDS Day taking place today. The conference aimed to make people aware and acknowledge that AIDS is a global disease and requires urgent attention.
The subject of AIDS has been high on the agenda in Jeddah for a week, started by a march along the North Corniche. Hassan Al-Bahkaly, head of media and publications at the Health Affairs, explained that the march profiled prominent figures from the Ministry of Health and volunteers from different backgrounds.
The march visited resorts along the Corniche to distribute brochures, promoting AIDS awareness. “People showed positive responses toward this awareness move and were keen on accessing more information about the virus,” Al-Bahkaly noted.
Dr. Hanaa Bakhsh in charge of treating HIV positive infants in the Hospital of Maternity in Jeddah said the ministry handled all the expenses of treatment for these children. “Our job is to handle these patients with care and love because it is the most important aspect when dealing with them.”
Dr. Bakhsh confirmed that although there is no definite cure for AIDS, the disease could be controlled and the patient can live with it for years following the right medication scheme.
Dr. Hala Abu Talib, a UN AIDS expert, gave a lecture on “Women, Girls and AIDS.” The number of patients infected with AIDS, cumulatively, until the end of 2003 totaled 1,734 in Saudi Arabia. The Ministry of Health spent more than SR15 million on AIDS medications.
Dr. Abu Talib pointed out that AIDS is the most widespread disease in the world. “There are 40 million patients spread over the world; 50 percent are women,” she said. The highest rate of infections is reported in the developing countries. She explained that the reason behind that is women are often oppressed in the world and are victims of physical abuse.
Dr. Sanaa Flimban and Dr. Nayla Abujadayel were the main organizers of the AIDS conference. The main focus was the human side of the HIV positive patients in tandem with medical and social awareness. Both insisted that people should not stereotype AIDS patients but should sympathize with them.
