Every year, December 1 is designated as World Aids Day to create awareness regarding the HIV, the virus that causes Aids. Reports show that more people on the planet than ever know what Aids is.
However, when it comes to prevention, the world community has done very little. Finding a cure has remained as remote as ever despite advances in medical research and technological developments.
Statistics show that since its detection in 1984, more than 35 million people have died and 36.7m carry the virus. Carriers appear to be healthy but have the potential to transfer the virus to partners and others during sexual encounters or other modes of transmission.
The theme selected this year was ‘Communities make the difference’ to emphasise the role of community in preventing spread of diseases.
WHO in its 2019 campaign stressed that ‘Communities of people living with HIV and community health workers have played a key role in the HIV response. Listen to their stories on making the difference and changing lives. It recommends increased community-based delivery of HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care.
Communities helped shape stronger HIV response and their role is an essential part of the movement towards universal health coverage.’
WHO is emphasising on community based tools to beat the spread of HIV and that means intensive and extensive awareness campaigns are necessary to address the issues at stake and motivate people to take community based actions against the spread of HIV.
Last year, I penned a piece in the same vein regarding the state of awareness campaigns in Bahrain. Unfortunately, the Health Ministry did not come up with any comments or works it has done on the issue.
People would like to know about the prevalence of HIV/Aids in Bahrain, its mode of transmission and the current statistics to prevent themselves and their families from HIV. Piece of information on these issues are badly needed to reach the public through awareness campaigns, which are the first lines of defence against Aids.
Abu Mohammed
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