JEDDAH, 19 September 2006 — The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) will write a book that has a system to protect AIDS/HIV patients in the Kingdom.
According to Bandar Al-Hajjar, president of NSHR, the society will work on presenting a proposal for the Council of Ministers and Shoura Council before the International AIDS Day on Dec. 1
A meeting was held on Saturday to discuss the protection of the rights of AIDS/HIV patients in Saudi Arabia. Twenty participants attended the meeting that took place at NSHR headquarters in Riyadh.
The speakers were representing the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Ministry of Health, King Faisal Specialist Hospital (KFSH), the National Guard Hospital, the Chamber of Commerce and the Friends of Patients Society.
Figures presented by KFSH during the meeting showed that there are 2,800 reported AIDS/HIV cases in Saudi Arabia. Women form 36 percent of the cases. While 10 percent of the patients are children, 87 percent ranged between 15 and 45 years of age. Most of the victims contracted the virus through unprotected sex.
At Saturday’s meeting, Al-Hajjar stressed the importance of collective efforts of all organizations in order to protect the rights of AIDS/HIV patients in Saudi Arabia in accordance with the Shariah.
Lubna Al-Ansary, a member of the executive council and head of the planning and development department, gave a presentation. Only 10 patients out of 25 receive treatment, she said, adding that there must be more awareness on how to treat the AIDS/HIV patient at his house, work and school.
The first meeting of its kind took place in June. A third meeting is scheduled to discuss awareness programs for the International AIDS Day.
