On World AIDS Day, Syria remains one of the countries with the lowest prevalence globally

Damascus-Sana

The Ministry of Health announced on the World AIDS Day the number of registered cases of the disease since 1987 until today, amounting to 1013 cases, 248 of them continue to free treatment in its specialized centers.

Dr. Jamal Khamis, Director of the National AIDS Control Program at the Ministry of Health, explained that these cases are distributed among 347 non-Syrians and 666 Syrians, pointing to the implementation of a national strategy to prevent the disease and reduce the spread of infection and follow-up patients living with it through the provision of medical services, psychological support and free treatment for them.

The Director of the program to follow up the plan to investigate the disease and provide tests for patients to assess the response to treatment and reduce new injuries and deaths and activation of counseling centers and voluntary testing to diagnose HIV infection for those who want to free and confidential.

Syria is classified as one of the countries with low prevalence of the disease regionally and globally as a result of health procedures and the implementation of the policy of spreading health education and the provision of comprehensive health care and counseling for all patients through specialized health centers in all governorates, according to the Director of Communicable and Chronic Diseases in the ministry, Dr. Hazar Pharaon.

During an event organized by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization on the occasion of World AIDS Day, which coincides with the beginning of December, the Assistant Minister of Health, Dr. Ahmed Khalifawi, pointed out the ministry's efforts to improve the lifestyle of people living with the disease and reduce stigma and discrimination against them and support them psychologically and socially. Especially in the absence of a cure for the disease or a vaccine against it globally.

In turn, the President of Damascus, Dr. Youssef Asaad, pointed to the role of prenatal medical examination clinics in detecting communicable diseases, including AIDS.

Non-governmental organizations contribute to raising awareness about the prevention of this disease, including the Family Planning Association, where a member of its board of directors, Amira Orabi, stated that the association, through its 12 youth centers in different governorates, organizes awareness sessions, educates about sexual health and counseling on AIDS, in addition to conducting tests for those who want Free and confidential.

WHO representative Dr Nehme Said reiterated WHO's call for more effective action to prevent AIDS at the global level, to provide treatment for people living with HIV and to stigmatize them and integrate services provided to them in the primary health care package.

Ines Svan