To mark World AIDS Day – which is commemorated globally on 1 December each year - infectious disease experts at the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) and Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) are urging the community to take steps to learn more about HIV/AIDS as well as get tested.
Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). According to the United Nations around 37.7 million people globally were living with HIV. An estimated 1.5 million individuals worldwide acquired HIV in 2020, marking a 30% decline in new HIV infections since 2010. About 6.1 million people did not know that they were living with HIV in 2020.
“Fighting HIV/AIDs is a shared responsibility and we all have a part to play,” said Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal, HMC’s Head of Infectious Diseases. “It is important to remind the community how the HIV virus is transmitted, how to protect oneself from catching the virus and why it is important to diagnose the infection early”.
Dr. Al Khal said HIV/AIDS is mostly spread through unprotected sex or by sharing injection needles with someone who has HIV.
“It can also be transmitted from a mother to her child during pregnancy and childbirth,” he said. “Because of this every pregnant woman should be tested for HIV during the early stages of her pregnancy because treatment of the mother will prevent transmission of the virus to her baby.”
Dr. Al Khal said confidential advice and information is available through a dedicated hotline (4025 4025/ 4025 4022) staffed by experts from the Communicable Disease Center (CDC).
“While there is no cure for HIV infection, it can be treated using highly effective antiretroviral drugs, which work by stopping the replication of the virus. HIV infected people taking antiviral treatment who adhere to their treatment and are virally suppressed are not infectious and they do not transmit the infection to their partners, they also can also live a full and normal life.
“We urge people who think they may have been exposed or who want further information to call the hotline – all calls are strictly confidential.”
Dr Hamad Al Romaihi, Director of Health Protection and Communicable Diseases at MOPH said: “Qatar has put in place a National AIDS Program through MOPH that is focused on raising awareness of the virus as well as providing comprehensive care to affected individuals living in the country. In this context, MOPH, HMC and the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), along with health partners in the public and private sectors, participated in the development of a national strategy aimed at combating AIDS, starting during the period 2021-2025, in cooperation with the World Health Organization and other regional and international organizations.”
“This strategic plan includes providing the latest and most effective treatments free of charge to infected citizens and residents alike to break the chain of transmission of infection, in addition to providing high-quality counseling and examination services, while spreading awareness to reduce stigma and societal discrimination against infected persons living with the disease. As a result, significant progress has been made in the State of Qatar this year, according to the annual performance measurement indicators,” added Dr. Al Romaihi.
Dr. Hussam Al Soub, Senior Consultant at HMC’s Infectious Diseases Unit said HIV/AIDS is a type of sexually transmitted infection (STI) and people should take steps to protect themselves against all forms of these infections.
“These are infections that are passed from one person to another through intimate physical contact, mainly sexual intercourse with an infected person, who, in most cases is not aware of his/her infection,” Dr. Al Soub said. “STIs are increasingly common, and the World Health Organization estimates that more than one million STIs are acquired every day across the world.”
According to Dr. Al Soub, it is important for those who have risky sexual behavior to also get regularly tested for STIs, many of which do not exhibit symptoms.
“It is important to understand that not all STIs cause symptoms, so it is possible to have an infection and not be aware of it. For this reason, it is recommended that people get regularly tested, even if they show no clear signs or symptoms. People who think they were exposed and wanting to get tested can make an appointment at their primary health care center,” he said.
Source: Ministry of Public Health