Damascus-SANA
On the occasion of World AIDS Day, which falls on the first of December of each year, the Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the World Health Organization, organized a celebration under the slogan “Tell a Friend: A Simple, Confidential AIDS Test” at the Sheraton Hotel in Damascus.
In her speech, the Assistant Minister of Health, Dr. Razan Saluta, highlighted the importance of highlighting the challenges faced by people living with AIDS, setting policies and strategies to limit its spread, and the importance of conducting testing and early detection of infection in order to provide timely treatment.
Dr. Saluta pointed out that Syria is one of the countries with low infection rates regionally and globally, as the cumulative number of human immunodeficiency cases detected in it since 1987 has reached 1141 cases, including 786 cases of Syrian nationality, and 355 cases of other nationalities, pointing out that The number of people living with HIV infection receiving treatment is 326.
In his turn, Director of Communicable and Chronic Diseases at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Zuhair Al-Sahwi, explained that the ministry is implementing, through the national program to combat HIV, basic strategies, by providing free counseling and voluntary examination in counseling centers spread in various governorates to detect suspected cases, and provide treatment and care services. Preventing with complete confidentiality, reducing new births with this disease through the program to prevent transmission of HIV infection from the pregnant mother to the fetus, providing free treatment for all AIDS patients, and integrating mental health services with the activities of the National Program for AIDS Control.
A representative of the World Health Organization, Dr. Hania Al-Husseini, affirmed the organization's commitment to putting an end to the disease, and its support for a new regional action plan to eradicate AIDS by 2030, noting that Syria has made great strides in combating AIDS, by providing the latest medicines and follow-up treatment for free despite All the difficulties and challenges you face.
The mental health official at the World Health Organization, Dr. Nabil Samerji, stressed the importance of psychological support for the AIDS patient to alleviate his suffering and focus on psychological suffering, from the moment he learned of the infection, and during the treatment period to avoid suicidal thoughts and stigma, pointing out that the percentage of disorders that are detected In patients living with the disease, the percentage is high.
A member of the leadership of the Revolutionary Youth Union, Solina Hamadeh, explained the importance of immunizing young people intellectually and healthily, as they form the backbone of society, especially against epidemics and deadly diseases, including AIDS, which has many causes, stressing the importance of partnership between the concerned authorities to develop an action plan to prevent this dangerous disease.
The celebration included the presentation of educational videos to introduce the methods of transmission of the virus and ways to prevent it, in addition to a theatrical performance by the Family Planning Association showing the suffering of a person with AIDS.
Rama Rashidi
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