~ AIDS : WOMEN IN THE FRONT LINE ~

[HOUDA-K]

4/25/2005

AIDS remains under control in Morocco, with figures reaching an estimated 16,000 cases, revealed the Minister of Health, Mohamed Cheikh Biadillah, to the HIV/AIDS Commission and Governance of Africa (CHGA).


“The HIV infection rate is presently on the rise among women and the young,” explained Friday Apr.22 Mohamed Cheikh Biadillah in a speech, read in his name, to participants in the interactive meeting of the Commission on HIV/AIDS and Governance in Africa (CHGA), held in Casablanca on Apr 22-23.



"65% of the people suffering from AIDS are aged between 15 and 39, with 75% having caught the virus through sexual intercourse,” said Biadillah. He added that global figures in developing countries showed that “67% of newly infected people are aged between 15 and 24, and that 64% of them are women."

Despite these alarming figures, Morocco is still a country “where the epidemiological HIV/AIDS situation remains under control,” said the minister. He stressed that Morocco is considered as a model, given the strong mobilisation of its civil society against the scourge, and a relatively low infection rate.

He also reminded the participants of the measures taken to make sure that HIV-positive people have access to diagnosis while benefiting from anonymity and confidentiality, adding that a social and psychological care and therapeutic education programme is currently being elaborated.

With only 1,587 HIV cases notified in Morocco since 1986 and a number of HIV-positive people ranging between 13,000 and 30,000 depending on estimations, Morocco is one of the few African countries relatively spared by AIDS.

Despite this, experts have warned that the epidemic is expanding fast, with women, especially illiterate or dependent ones, being among its main victims as they cannot demand that their partners use condoms or even minimal hygiene prior to sexual intercourse.

The Commission on HIV/AIDS and Governance in Africa (CHGA) was created by the United Nations in September 2003 to provide African countries with a sanitary policy platform.

This year's meeting brought together about 120 specialists from 20 countries as well as representatives belonging to international organisations.