Fighting AIDS stigma ‘demands more awareness’ in Saudi Arabia

JEDDAH: Social stigma over AIDS is still causing some patients to avoid treatment, a leading Saudi Arabia-based doctor said ahead of today’s global awareness campaign over the disease.
Knowledge about AIDS and HIV, the virus that can lead to it, is still poor even among some medical professionals, said Dr. Batool Ali, infectious diseases consultant at the Ministry of Health, based in Jeddah.
Despite global initiatives like today’s World AIDS Day, social stigma over the disease is still rife.
“Many people are still reluctant to get treated due to the social stigma we still have in the society,” Ali said.
Some are scared that others would end up finding out about their disease if they were to go and get tested.
“Unfortunately, HIV patients are looked at as wrongdoers and that they deserve (to have caught) the disease,” Ali told Arab News.
“Cancer patients (by comparison) are more comfortable sharing information about their illnesses. They get the support from their families and from the society.”
Expatriates who apply to work in Saudi Arabia must be tested for HIV before acquiring work permits. As most workplaces require HIV screening testing prior to starting a job, those who are found to be HIV positive may face discrimination and lose the job, even if they are qualified for it.
“I would understand testing new recruits if they are in the medical industry and are dealing directly with patients, such as doctors and nurses,” Ali said.
“But why would patients be tested for admin jobs for example? Why are these patients prevented from being given jobs they are qualified to do just because they are HIV patients?”
There continues to be a lack of knowledge around the disease in the society, even among some medical staff, Ali added.
Some medical staff are wary of dealing with HIV or AIDS patients because they fear getting infected. Ali gives a monthly awareness talk to the staff at the Jeddah based hospital where she works, in order to raise their awareness on dealing with such patients. They get taught that HIV, or the human immunodeficiency virus, is not transmitted via the air, or by talking to or touching patients.
“Some medical staff lack that knowledge and are scared of dealing with HIV patients. I believe we are still lagging behind in HIV/AIDS awareness,” Ali said.
In 2008, Saudi Arabia added AIDS screening to the mandatory premarital screening test for Saudi and non-Saudi nationals. The Ministry of Health move helped eliminate any embarrassment that may accompany HIV testing, since everyone is obliged to do the test before getting married, whether he or she suspects they are infected or not.
Screening tests are confidential for Saudis and non-Saudis. Most of those who are tested positive receive counseling and agree to start getting treated. Non-Saudis are also treated for free until they are set to be deported to their home countries.
The process of informing HIV or AIDS patients about their condition is run with secrecy and cautiousness. Dr. Sana Filemban, AIDS program director at the Ministry of Health, said that it is done by well-trained experts. The patient has to be alone, and gradually gets educated about the basics of HIV infection.
“Testing positive for HIV often leaves a person overwhelmed with questions and concerns,” said Filemban. “It is important to remember (to tell a) patient that HIV is a manageable disease that can be treated with HIV medicines but these medicines cannot cure the infection. They however help people with HIV live longer, healthier lives.”
The number of fresh HIV and AIDS cases have decreased among Saudis. In 2015, 1,191 cases were registered; 436 of the patients were Saudi while 755 were non-Saudi.
The Ministry of Health is planning to intensify the awareness campaigns in order to reduce the stigma that HIV/AIDS patients suffer from.