HIV/ AIDS - Yemen Successes and challenges Dr. Fouzia Abdullah Gharama Programme Manager Ministry of Public Health & Population

National AIDS Control Programme Established in Ministry of Health in 1987 Supported Mainly by the MOPHP, Dutch Embassy, WHO, UNAIDS, and recently by the Global Fund Plan of action according to priority areas identified jointly by NAP and UNAIDS theme group.

NAP-Priority Areas Prevention of sexual transmission Control of STIs Counseling and care of persons with HIV/AIDS Strengthening of programme management HIV surveillance

Programme activities carrying out are Training and Education Counseling of HIV/AIDS cases, partners and their families, HIV screening for blood donation Serosurveys in selected population groups.

HIV/AIDS situation in Yemen Cumulative reported cases (HIV/AIDS) : 1379 Estimated number of PLWA 2002 ( 11,227) Case detection is limited to: Testing of blood donors Suspected AIDS cases In Migrant OutMigrant workers Some of vulnerable groups

successes There is a strong political commitment regarding HIV/AIDS prevention strategy. The National HIV/AIDS Prevention Strategy which was formulated and approved by the government in 2002 urges inclusion of HIV /AIDS activities in the national planning framework, the population policy and government sector plans in addition to the reproductive health and family planning programe..

There are efforts to keep the prevalence of infection at its current level and to decrease it. Yemen adopted the global goals in term of prevention, with emphasis on issues against discrimination and stigma

Status of development of the National Health System in Yemen Allocation of fund for HIV/AIDS Program in the budget of the MOPHP. The MOPHP has approved the initiative of 3 X5 adopted by WHO & others to provide treatment for 3 million PLWA by the end of 2005.

Status of development of the National Health System in Yemen Preparation of multi-sectoral plan to tackle HIV/AIDS. Establishment of poverty unit in the MOPHP for poverty is considered to be the most significant factor in spreading the epidemic. Effective and successive role of theme group.

successes Training of Health Care Providers Education activities (In and out of schools)) Passive Surveillance ( Among some of high risk groups I.e STDs,Prisoners..) Testing of blood donations is carried out under the activities of National Blood Bank.

successes The National AIDS Programe adopted a plan of counseling to be implemented as an important activity. Establishment of the counseling unit (HOTLINE ) in NAP.

Challenges Inadequate financing for health facilities and advocacy. Lack of availability and quality counseling services. lack of awareness of the problem. Inadequate participation of other relevant sectors in implementing HIV/AIDS prevention and Care activities

Challenges Lack of explicit media policies for advocacy purposes regarding sexual education. Inadequate integration of STIs care at the primary health care level Shortage of trained staff to provide care to HIV/AIDS infected persons. Inadequate involvement of NGOs especially in outreach and reaching vulnerable groups such as sex workers

Challenges Ineffective coordination among various implementing agencies. In availability of database on HIV/AIDS knowledge and risk behavior.

FUTURE PLANS Of NAP Strengthening counseling activities with emphasis on Counseling and Voluntary Testing (CVT) More involvement of NGOs in Programme activities.15 Reaching vulnerable groups Better care of HIV/AIDS persons

THANKS