"Closing the gap in HIV prevention and treatment"
The World AIDS Day is observed every year on the 1st of December with the aim of encouraging all people across the world to raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS as well as stimulating international cooperation to combat this pandemic.
The day is considered one of the greatest opportunities for partners from the public and private sectors to raise awareness of the pandemic, and encourage to achieve progress in prevention and treatment, as well as caring for patients throughout the world, especially in the countries with high AIDS incidence.
The number of new AIDS cases in 2013 is estimated at 2.1 million, and the total number of those living with the disease at the end of the same year amounted to 35 million all over the world. About 1.5 million persons have died of AIDS, and the AIDS cumulative deaths are estimated at 39 million.
AIDS in Saudi Arabia:
- The cumulative number of all detected cases since the beginning of 1984 and up to the end of 2013 amounted to 20,539 cases, of which 5,890 cases were Saudis and 14,649 were non-Saudis.
- In 2013, 1,777 new AIDS cases were detected, 542 of which are Saudis and 1,235 non-Saudis.
- There is a notable increase in the detected cases of AIDS among Saudis by 26% in 2013, compared to the detected cases in 2012, and by 18% for the preceding year, 2011.
- In 2013, the ratio of men to women of the detected and recorded cases among Saudis was about 1:5.
- In 2013, the age group (15-49 years) of the Saudi AIDS detected cases represents 79%, or 428 cases out of 542.
Ways of transmission of AIDS among Saudis detected in 2013:
Sexual relations, which represents about 94% of the ways of infection (510 cases out of 542),
Followed by injected drug abuse 3% (16 cases),
And then mother-fetus transmission, which accounts for 2% (11 cases).
Internationally approved date: December 1st, 2014
Locally approved date: Safar 9th, 1436H
Targeted groups:
- People afflicted with AIDS and carriers of HIV/AIDS.
- Workers in the health sector.
- Health organizations and associations
- Health decision-makers.
- The public.
Objectives and general messages:
Underscoring the importance of enhancing the preventive and treatment services for AIDS locally and internationally by the end of the year 2013.
Monitoring the spread of HIV/AIDS at the international level and availability of the related treatment and protection services.
Setting policies and providing standard and technical guidelines to assist countries to boost intervention in the health sector in order to combat the HIV/AIDS.
Providing the necessary support to the countries, including developing the capabilities of health workers and training them.
Securing drugs, diagnostic tools and other necessary means to combat HIV/AIDS and ensure adequate supply of them.
Inviting all concerned parties at the international level to pay more attention to the global epidemic of HIV/AIDS and to demonstrate greater commitment to fighting it.
Logo of the World AIDS Day:
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