RIYADH, 14 June 2006 — The Kingdom is to set up a series of volunteer counseling and testing centers (VCTC) to help prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS.

“The first of such centers will be established shortly in Riyadh to assist people to advise them on the perils of the disease and to also guide them to a clinical inspection whenever necessary,” said Dr. Riyad Abdul Aziz Al-Khlaif, director of the National AIDS Program, while speaking to delegates at the Fourth Annual UNDP (United Nations Development Program) Regional HIV and AIDS Focal Points Meeting on Monday.

The UNDP Resident Representative El-Mostafa Benlamlih chaired the opening session of the three-day meeting in Riyadh, which was attended by UNDP officials from 20 Arab countries.

Although the numbers of HIV and AIDS cases are minimal in the Kingdom, Dr. Al-Khlaif said it is necessary on the part of the government to take preventive measures against the deadly disease. Since 1984, only 2,000 Saudis were among the 10,000 people found to carry AIDS in the Kingdom.

Dr. Al-Khlaif said the Ministry of Health had launched an intensive AIDS awareness campaign among people of all walks of life to educate them about the harms of the disease. At present, there are four AIDS diagnosis and treatment centers in Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah and Jizan. Two more will be established in the southern and northern-central part of the Kingdom, he said. Services at these centers are offered free of charge. Families of infected people are also provided services as well.

With an aim of curbing the disease, Dr. Al-Khlaif said the Kingdom has instructed all its foreign missions to only issue employment visas to foreign workers who present a medical certificate proving they do not carry AIDS. “Even the temporary resident certificate (iqama) are only issued to foreign workers in the Kingdom following an AIDS test,” he added.

While outlining the magnitude of the problem in the Arab world, Benlamlih pointed out that last year some 67,000 people were infected with HIV and AIDS, 28,000 people died as a result of the disease and that a total of 500,000 people in the region were HIV positive.

“These figures tend to multiply if proper action is not taken in time,” he said, adding that he hoped that the Arab world would face these challenges and re-shape its future through concerted efforts.

Benlamlih said due to constructive efforts made by the Saudi government and nongovernmental organizations, AIDS awareness has been increasing in the Kingdom at all levels. Recently a group of primary students from the Riyadh American International School voluntarily donated SR12,650 to the UNDP office in its fight against the disease. Benlamlih thanked the Kingdom for donating $10 million for the UNDP’s global AIDS campaign.

Dr. Khadija T. Moalla, regional program director of HIV and AIDS Program in Arab states, said four out of every five women who are HIV positive in Arab countries get the disease through their husbands. “As a new strategy, we are trying to reach the people through religious leaders. We have conducted programs for imams who deliver sermons at the mosques,” she said, pointing out that the growing incidence in the Arab states could be controlled by effective health education programs.