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| Dr al-Thani is seen with other presenters at the event |
Led by Health Sciences department at the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), in collaboration with the Supreme Council of Health and HMC, the event brought together experts, academics and researchers to call for the three zeros - zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero Aids-related deaths in Qatar - as stated by QU Medical Microbiology and Virologist associate professor Dr Asma al-Thani.
In her opening statement, CAS dean Dr Eiman Mustafawi called for an end to discrimination against people living with HIV and Aids (PLWHA) saying: “This event serves to increase public awareness so we can reduce the number of people infected with the virus, as well as end the stigma they face. They are entitled to their human rights starting with the right to medication to the right to live a normal life.”
SCH’s Public Health Department director Dr Mohamad bin Hamad al-Thani noted that in 2009, an estimated 750,000 people in the region were living with HIV infection and that a total of 24,000 deaths had been recorded worldwide.
“Stigma and discrimination against PLWH still exist in varying degrees in our communities and remain a barrier to people accessing prevention and care services,” he said while pointing to fear arising out of misunderstanding about the HIV modes of transmission, its relation to socially-unacceptable behaviour and the mistaken belief that HIV/Aids is a fatal disease.
A message by the WHO regional director Dr Hussein el-Gezairy on the theme of the campaign calling for respect for human rights in providing access to prevention, treatment and care, was aired during the event.
