RIYADH, 2 December — The Kingdom has mounted a public awareness campaign against the killer disease AIDS that claimed three million lives worldwide by the end of last year.
Speaking on the occasion of International AIDS Day, Abdulaziz Al-Khalifa, director general of the Insurance Hospital, said even though Saudi Arabia had the lowest incidence of AIDS, the occasion should serve as a reminder of the need for precautionary measures against the disease. The hospital treated only one AIDS case this year.
A lecture was organized at the hospital at which Dr. Haris Manzoor Khan, microbiologist, spoke on human immuno-deficiency virus that causes AIDS. He said HIV is transmitted most commonly by unprotected sex with an infected partner. It also spreads through contact with infected blood or drug users sharing needles or syringes contaminated with infected blood. The lecture was followed by a question-answer session in which the medical and paramedical staff participated.
Other sources of infection include blood and blood products, semen, vaginal and cervical secretions and breast milk. HIV is also present in negligible quantities in saliva, tears and blister fluid. However, it is not present in urine, feces, vomit and sweat.
A WHO documentary was also shown on the occasion to create awareness along these lines. Brochures and leaflets were also distributed on the occasion, which was covered by Saudi TV.
All the educational material in English and Arabic, it was pointed out, was produced in-house at the hospital. The participants also received Frequently Asked Questions and Answers on HIV, AIDS and Hepatitis C virus. The director general said the hospital has a well-equipped laboratory for screening all blood donors for AIDS. Suspect cases are sent to the Riyadh Central Hospital for diagnosis.
In line with the instructions of the Ministry of Health, Al-Khalifa said all new arrivals in the Kingdom are subjected to AIDS test before the issuance of Iqama.
Noting that AIDS has defied a permanent solution so far despite the research and development programs in different countries around the world, he said the only way to prevent it is by following the teachings of Islam, which preaches safe sex within the legally and morally acceptable bounds. It is for this reason that the Kingdom has the lowest incidence of AIDS, he observed.
Dr. Khan said public awareness was an important tool in fighting AIDS. He cited the case of Thailand and Uganda which successfully brought down the incidence of this disease by spearheading an educational campaign. He stressed the role of non-governmental organizations in creating awareness about the fatal nature of the disease.
