The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its readiness to care for and protect the health of its inhabitants, including those with AIDS, indicating that it has done everything to strengthen the health of the individual and society in this regard, by providing preventive and curative programs to combat AIDS, especially in relation to the fight with stigma, discrimination and protection of the rights of those infected, and work to protect young people, women and children from contracting this disease.
This was stated in a speech delivered by the Acting Chargé d’Affaires of the Kingdom to the Permanent Delegation of the Kingdom to the United Nations, Adviser Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Atik, during the plenary meeting of the United Nations General Assembly during the discussion of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV (AIDS).
Al-Ateeq explained that the Kingdom established the National AIDS Control Program in 1994 AD, which established a central national unit, as well as twenty units scattered throughout the regions of the Kingdom, noting that this program provides all services to prevent transmission of infection. HIV infection, in addition to providing medical care, including psychosocial treatment and services.
He stated that the program aims to educate and inform members of society, including mothers and children, about the disease while conducting continuous awareness campaigns to achieve global development goals.
He indicated that the services provided by the program included raising public awareness in addition to launching a policy that included treatment guidelines, counseling services, and voluntary screening in inpatient and mobile units.
Al-Atiq said: Among the most notable reforms aimed at the category of people living with AIDS in the Kingdom is the introduction of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) prevention system and the rights and obligations of those infected in 2018. necessary for those infected, ensuring their rights to continue education and work, imposing on the health authorities the obligation to provide medical care, counseling and psychological support to those infected, respecting their rights, combating AIDS, explaining the ways of transmission, methods of prevention and treatment, raising awareness about them and urging people to avoid it.
He stressed that this system in article VI warns against forcing an infected pregnant woman to have an abortion or depriving her of custody or care of her children because of her trauma, and also emphasizes the need to ensure the necessary medical care for her and her fetus.
He drew attention to the fact that although the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the countries with the lowest incidence of HIV infection that causes AIDS, the laws and regulations of the Kingdom prohibit any act or omission that discriminates against people with this disease, and leads to humiliation or humiliation their dignity Their rights or exploitation in connection with harm to them, since the practice in this regard is a crime punishable by law with a fine or imprisonment, or both, without prejudice to the right of the victim to claim compensation.
Al-Atiq reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to developing and implementing national plans and legislation to protect and uphold the rights of its citizens and residents, indicating that the Kingdom supports regional and international strategies to eliminate the human immunodeficiency virus (AIDS) by 2030 in accordance with its legal and national frameworks, as well as religious values and cultural values.
