CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
by CARITAS-Egypt, November 1998
THEME = AIDS
CARITAS involves itself in the fight against AIDS
AIDS represents one of the greatest threats to public health in this century. Globally, the HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to sweep across continents, where the number of adults estimated to be infected with the HIV virus world-wide, has more that doubled since 1990. Its medical, economic and social impact is proving to be catastrophic in many countries and communities throughout the world.
AIDS has rapidly became a global pandemic, with more than one million cases officially reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) from 192 countries since the beginning of the epidemic until the end of 1995. However, the actual number is much higher. From the beginning of the pandemic until mid-1996, an estimated 27.9 million people world-wide were infected with the HIV virus, of these more than six million have developed AIDS, and 5.8 million are estimated to have died from AIDS world-wide. WHO estimates that between one and one-and-a-half million new infections occur every year, and between 300,000 and 500,000 AIDS cases a year, or about 1000-1400 cases daily, and as many as 40 million people will be infected by the year 2000.
As in other countries in the region, the HIV virus appears to have been introduced into Egypt, in the early to mid-1980s. Early cases generally occurred among people who travelled in, or who had contact with individuals from other endemic areas, also, among people who received imported blood or blood products from endemic areas.
The reported AIDS cases indicate there is an increasing trend from one year to the next, where the annual reported cases of HIV/AIDS have been steadily rising, however, the prevalence is still low. Up to the end of December 1995, a total of 746 accumulative HIV/AIDS cases have been reported to the Ministry of Health headquarters (MOH/HQ). Cases of HIV/AIDS were mainly reported from urban governorates (Cairo, Giza and Alexandria). In Alexandria, a total of 43 cumulative AIDS cases have been reported to the MOH Alexandria HQ.
Though HIV infection rates in the general population are still low, the potential for spreading from groups practising high-risk behaviour, is a valid possibility. Indigenous transmission, mainly sexual, accounts for most of the reported cases in Egypt, with a peak age incidence of 20-39, and the male:female ratio of 9:1.
In Egypt, AIDS cases are taken care of in the Infectious Diseases Hospitals, where comprehensive care is offered. Specific anti-viral treatment has not yet been introduced.
The National AIDS Control Programme at the MOH, is the official body taking the lead in the fight against AIDS in Egypt. It works in cooperation with other sectors, agencies and interested NGOs, where several activities have been initiated to control AIDS and prevent its spread.
CARITAS is an international organization working towards a goal of better quality of life for human beings, regardless of religion, race or colour. Its first mission was established in Germany in 1891. CARITAS' headquarters is currently in Rome. It has 150 branches in 128 countries, of these, fifteen are in the Arab World including Egypt.
CARITAS-Egypt was established in 1967, immediately after the Arab- Israel confrontation. Its objective at that time was to help and assist the Egyptian people face up to the catastrophe of that war. This came in form of humanitarian donations including food, clothes, blankets, medicine. Also, 26 refugee centres, 25 centres for milk distribution and 16 health-care centres were founded. CARITAS' active contribution was appreciated by the Egyptian people as well as by the government. Since then, CARITAS-Egypt continues to cooperate with both governmental and non- governmental bodies, in various sectors.
The success and the governmental support CARITAS-Egypt is enjoying in various spheres of activities, including the health sector, encourages the organisation to give of its best. CARITAS now feels it is participating actively in the fight against AIDS in Egypt, and an AIDS department has been established within CARITAS to initiate and co-ordinate their different AIDS-related activities. An advisory board for this department has also been established. Its members were selected from physicians and scientists with broad national and international experience.
The department initiated its intervention activities in Cairo through its Cairo office, and thus CARITAS' AIDS Intervention Unit (AIU) came into being.
All agree that in the absence of effective vaccines and available treatment, prevention of new cases of HIV infection and ultimately, control of the AIDS epidemic, depends upon our success in altering the kind of human behaviour which results in HIV transmission. The control of AIDS is dependent upon prevention through education, information and curtailment of known risk behaviours, beside strengthening the role of health care providers (HCP)s to enable them to participate effectively in this fight.
Intervention Programme - With these principles in mind, the AIU initiated its intervention programme aiming to: Teach people, especially the youth, the essential facts about the disease; promote healthy behaviour; modify risk behaviour; reduce the risk of exposure and transmission; calm anxiety about casual transmission; prevent discrimination; mobilize the community to participate as active members; promote intersectorial/inter- agencies collaboration; strengthen the preventive role of HCPs and social workers.
Target group - The target group for Year One of the campaign included: community leaders, students, clients of STD clinics, HCPs involved in STD patient's care, HCPs working in blood banks, doctors working in laboratories and laboratory technicians, social workers dealing with students, STD cases and drug-users.
Activities - Within a one-year period, starting in May 1997 and extending to May 1998, various intervention activities were organised by the AIU:
Seminars, Workshops, Sessions - A seminar for community leaders and policy makers, on HIV/AIDS; two seminars for secondary school students, with a theme aimed at increasing HIV/AIDS awareness and promotion of preventive practices; an intensified HIV/AIDS/STD intervention activity throughout one week in two selected secondary technical schools; a workshop for school social workers focused mainly on counselling skills in tackling high-risk behaviour among students, especially regarding HIV/AIDS; establishing two Anti- AIDS Club (AAC) executive offices in the two secondary technical schools mentioned above; organising workshops on HIV/AIDS and STD for different HCPs (medical and paramedical) on the theme of enhancing their preventive and counselling skills and strengthening their role in the fight against HIV/AIDS; organising two seminars for HCPs (medical and paramedical, including nurses) on HIV/AIDS with special emphasis on promotion of preventive skills and universal precaution; holding clinic sessions (10 minutes each) on HIV/AIDS, for the clients of the STD clinics in the clinics' reception halls. The sessions were conducted by an AIU-trained medical officer working in the STD clinics.
Communications' Techniques - Establishing a CARITAS AIU "help-line". This operates on a daily basis from 10am to 1pm, during which an expert from the AIU responds to different questions and queries raised by clients, and provides them with correct information and appropriate counselling; the production and distribution of posters designed to carry an encouraging message without creating panic or fear. The posters were distributed in schools and STD clinics where they were put up in various places; the production and distribution of pamphlets, which were distributed during workshops/seminars and in schools and STD clinics. The pamphlets contain a concise message which provides the readers with essential facts and information on how to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS.
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CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
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