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January 1, 2008
HIV Positive Saudis Encouraged To Register Complaints
In a country where being open about HIV infection is virtually unheard of, Saudi Arabia's National Society for Human Rights this week asked HIV-positive Saudis who've received unfair treatment in the workplace or from the public to come forward and register their complaints.
Until recently, many Arab countries refused to acknowledge that AIDS even existed within their borders. But in June 2006, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health announced more than 10,000 HIV infection cases- almost double the number of reported infections in 2003. Who will come forward and register? The truth is that many HIV-Positive Saudis tell us they cannot admit publicly that they are infected. Also, any legal protection for HIV patients in the country applies only to Saudi citizens. Foreigners who are found to carry the virus are typically deported. Moreover, Human Rights Watch last October decried an NSHR "bill of rights" for AIDS/HIV-positive Saudis, saying that it "presents a veneer of protection in one phrase, before taking it away in the next. It violates rights of confidentiality and informed consent and provides for arbitrary detention. It fails to ensure the right to nondiscrimination and equal protection of the law. And ultimately, it represents a strategy against AIDS that is doomed to fail. " What do you think of the National Society for Human Rights' initiative? Send us an email at mideast@cnn.com or add a comment below.
HIV is not unlike any other deadly disease. Those that have it may or may not tell others. The reasons why vary from being afraid to admit homosexual activity which in the middle east is forbidden to dishonor by family and friends or fear of deportation or isolation. I doubt any large number of people in the middle east contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion or sharing needles so that leaves unsafe unprotected sex and most probably sex with homosexuals. There is no coming out of the closet in the Middle East. No country that allows foreigners inside of it borders is safe from HIV or AIDS it is a well traveled killer and knows no borders. The Human Rights Inititive will only get people hurt, killed or ostracized and to me is an absolute waiste of time and money. Money and effort should be spent on Education and Prevention instead of trying to get people outed.
The Health Care system in Saudi Arabia can be classified as a national health care system in which the government provides health care services through a number of government agencies. Private medicine is also available with over 87 hospitals with 8,485 beds that make up 19 percent of the overall healthcare system. In many ways they are way ahead of the West in healthcare. The problem comes when things which are considered Taboo like Aids or HIV occur.
Those that have Aids or HIV are considered to be deviates and unacceptable by society. Lets face it folks society did not give them aids. Promiscuous sex however did. So the government needs to focus it's efforts on abstinence and prevention and education to teach how not to let this happen to them. For those that have Aids now that boat has already sailed but they can infect others and most likely will given the chance. Like any other preventable disease Aids is indeed preventable. Those that have it need to seek help and as soon as possible regardless of the stereo type that have produced for themselves. Contracting Aids in most cases comes from a personal choice to engage in sex and by not protecting ones self from the potential of contracting it. Those numbers at 10,000 now will only multiply exponentially as time goes by without intervention. The cheapest and best method is education and providing prophylactics to those that chose that lifestyle and for those that did not choose but will become victims do to someone else's disregard or careless act knowing that they are infectious. |
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