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Report blames expat influx for rise in HIV cases
The number of HIV positive cases in Dubai grew seven fold from 50 in 2000 to 450 in 2007 due to expatriate population explosion, according to the country’s first comprehensive report on the disease.
According to the UAE’s progress report on the disease for January 2008-December 2009 that will be presented for the first time at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) later this year, the number, which includes both locals and expatriates, stayed stable (under 50) from 1995 to 1999.
This, the report adds, is followed by a period of steady growth in the number of infections that went along with the exponential growth in the number of expatriate workers residing in Dubai from 2000 to 2007.
“In these seven years, the number of HIV cases grew seven fold from 50 to 450. The sudden spike in the number of cases recorded in 2007 is worthy of investigation,” it adds.
The report, however, adds that in 2008, the number of cases in Dubai decreased to 350. Though complete numbers for 2009 were not available, based on earlier indications, the number of infected had dropped due to the decrease in the number of expatriate workers in Dubai precipitated by the global financial crisis.
“In this regard, the Dubai Health Authority records indicate that the total number of HIV positive cases for the first 10 months of 2009 was 147,” says the report. The number of people living with HIV infection among nationals until 2009 was 636 (476 men and 160 women).
In 2009 alone, 49 nationals were found HIV positive of whom 39 per cent and 35 per cent were discovered in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, respectively. As per the report, only one national received TB and HIV treatment in 2009. As for expatriates, the DHA reported 15 HIV patients with TB in the same year. As per the country’s law, the patients were either repatriated to their home countries or to the jail if they had been referred from the jail clinic.
To deal and record the cases effectively, the country has proposed the establishment of Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) clinics under a new draft bylaw on HIV/AIDS expected to be mooted by the cabinet this year.
“The UAE has adopted a draft system for dealing with reported cases and the actions taken to achieve prevention and co-existence of society members from getting affected,” said Dr Mahmoud Fikri, Executive Director for Health Policies at the ministry.
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