Muscat Daily, 11 August 2014

MUSCAT - With Oman registering 2,394 cases of HIV/AIDS in nearly three decades, a dedicated non-governmental body is currently under formation to assist in channelising efforts to fight the spread of the disease.

There were 1,511 people living with HIV (PLHIV) from 1984 till the end of December 2013, of which approximately 30 per cent of the new cases registered each year across the sultanate were women.

Positive Vision will be the sultanate's first NGO on HIV/AIDS which aims to raise awareness through programmes and campaigns targeting risky behaviour, specifically among most-at-risk populations and young people by collaborating with different sectors, and be a support system for PLHIVs and their families.

Speaking to Muscat Daily, Nashia Nasib, president of Positive Vision with her extensive experience of working on HIV/AIDS at Unicef and the Ministry of Health's (MoH) HIV/AIDS Section for over nine years, said, "We are in the process of setting up an NGO for HIV/AIDS.

The founders' meeting was held in May 2013 to begin the registration process. We had over 40 founding members from various backgrounds, educations and experiences; some of who are from the Royal Family, MoH, government and private sectors, media, legal institutions and PLHIVs themselves.

MoH has implemented various interventions in addressing the medical aspect of HIV. The NGO is by no means here to replace the efforts of the ministry, but on the contrary to work hand in hand to multiply the efforts and support needed and to tackle preventative, curative and community based aspects that can make PLHIV live long, healthy and productive lives.

"Part of our mandate as an NGO will be to work with PLHIVs and build their capacities and empower them to fight the stigma and discrimination they face by actively involving them in awareness programmes and national efforts against HIV/AIDS that will allow them to speak about the disease instead of fearing it. Stigma still remains as one of the main reasons why the AIDS epidemic continues to devastate communities around the world," she said.

The NGO will also partner and liaise with other sectors and organisations - both local and international - to ensure that PLHIVs and their families are provided with social, legal, psychological and medical support.

When asked about other activities that the NGO will conduct, Nashia added, "Even with all the literature that is out there, research will be a key activity that the association will be conducting. We hope to be working in tandem with MoH and organisations such as UNAIDS to further understand the HIV situation in Oman and respond accordingly."

At the end of 2012, 35.3mn people worldwide were living with HIV/AIDS, of which 2.3mn were new cases that year, while 1.6mn died from HIV or related illnesses, she said.

"The first case ever reported globally was in 1980, while in Oman, the first case reported was in 1984. In 1986, the sultanate registered the first case of a child infected with HIV. The number of new cases per year is the highest in North Batinah governorate, followed by Muscat.

"Most of our cases, like in many countries, are from sexual transmission; around five per cent from intravenous (IV) drug use and another five per cent are through mother-to-child transmissions," Nashia said, adding that the mode of transmission in 30 per cent of the cases is unknown.

Between 2001 and 2012, the number of new infections in Middle East and North Africa grew by 52 per cent - the most rapid increase in HIV among world regions. "In Oman, the figures are on a rise for the past ten years, with an average of approximately 150 cases every year over the last five years. It is an eye opener and the issue must be addressed."

One of the reasons behind the rise, in her opinion, was that the subject still remains taboo. "We must talk about it, be proactive and be unafraid to address it at its roots, and target those infected and affected." This, Nashia said, was one of the main ideas behind forming the NGO.

Those in the 20-40 years age group are the most affected, said Nashia. "The earlier the detection, the better are the chances of survival. There is a lot that must be done particularly to target this age group."

When asked about the progress of the NGO, all formal documents concerning it were submitted to the Ministry of Social Development last December. "So we are in the process of being registered." Till the time the NGO is registered, the team plans to carry out awareness programmes as volunteers.

By Madhuparna Bhattacharjee

Source: Muscat Daily