National AIDS Program in Palestine

Dr. Asad Ramlawi Director General of PHC

•National HIV / AIDS program established in 1990.

•Incorporated STDs & STIs in 1996 & 1998,respictivelly .

AIDS / HIV Surveillance Report

Number of cases

AIDS

Asymptomatic HIV

Total

During this period

1 1 2

Cumalulative Total

44 17 61

Number of cases of AIDS/ HIV

Number of AIDS Cases by year

Up to 1986

87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95

0 0 4 1 0 1 6 1 3 3

96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 Total

1 9 3 1 3 1 2 1 1 3 44

Cumulative of HIV AIDS by year

In Palestine 2005Year 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97

No of Cases 4 1 0 1 8 2 7 5 1 8

Cumulative No.

4 5 5 6 14 16 23 28 29 37

98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05

3 4 4 5 0 2 2 4

40 44 48 53 53 55 57 61

44

17

0

10

20

30

40

50

Case Carrier

AIDS Cases by Age & Sex

Age/yrs During this period

M F Unknown Total

Cumulative Total

M F Unknown Total

0-4 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1

5-9 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1

10-14 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1

15-19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

20-24 0 0 0 0 5 1 0 6

25-29 0 0 0 0

5 1 0 6

30-34 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 9

AIDS Cases by Age & Sex

Age /yr M F U K T

M F U K Total

40-44 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1

45-49 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1

50-54 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1

55-59 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

60+ 0 0 0 0 5 1 0 6Unknown 0 0 0 0 5 1 0 6

Total 1 0 0 1 39 4 1 44

AIDS Cases by mode of Transmission

Mode of Transmission

During this period

Cumulative Total

Heterosexual 0 24

Homosexual 0 1

Blood/bld products

1 10

Injection Drug Use

0 1

Mother to child 0 1

Other known 0 0

Multiple 0 2

Un known 0 5

Total 1 44

Results of all HIV tests

Group tested High Risk Groups

During this period

Tested Positive

Total for this year

Tested Positive

STD Patient N.A N.A

N.A N.A

Prostitute N.A N.A N.A N.A

Bar Girls N.A N.A N.A N.A

Homosexual N.A N.A N.A N.A

Injecting drug user 0 0 0 0

Blood recipient 0 0 0 0

Sexual contact of AIDS

0 0 1 0

Prisoners 0 0 0 0

Group tested High Risk Groups

During this period

Tested Positive

Total for this year

Tested Positive

Suspected AIDS 0 0

0 0

TB patients 1 0 3 0

Long distance truck drivers

N.A N.A N.A N.A

Voluntary council ling & testing

N.A N.A N.A N.A

Others 0 0 4 0

Sub Total 1 0 8 0

Group tested Low Risk Groups

During this period

Tested Positive

Total for this year

Tested Positive

Blood donors 12556 0

36401 0

Pregnant mothers 4 0 13 0

In-migrant 0 0 0 0

Pre marital 1 0

1 0

Out- migrant 119 0

465 0

Others 3467 1

11472 2

Sub Total 16147 1

48352 2

Total 16148 1

48360 2

Cumulative Number of HIV/ AIDS by mode of transmission

in Palestine 2005Heterosexual 34

Bisex 2

Homosexual 1

Hemophilia 4

Addicts 3

Transmission 1

Others 7

Unknown 9

Total 61

Challenges

1. Political situation2. Emergency / Prioritization 3. Budget4. Behavioral surveillance5. Identification of risky of behavioral group6. Harmonization of H E material &

strategies

7. Privacy / Stigma

8. Patient follow up & treatment

9. Medical awareness

10. Lack of experts / Clinics / & centers

Lessons learned 1. Community awareness STDs/ HIV/ AIDS

2. STDs prevalence is similar to other countries in the region

3. Counseling program still weak in Palestine by health provider

4. No harmonized surveillance system for STDs / HIV in Palestine by different health providers

5. STDs surveillance & counseling should be integrated within R H services

6. NGOs & private sectors should be involved in training / Implementation of National products & guideline of STDs / HIV

Achievements

1. AIDS / STDs guidelines 2000 copies

2. Counseling guidelines ( health education Booklets ) 1000 copies

3. Training of 250 health personal on guidelines of STDs / AIDS

4. Training of 100 health personal of counseling

5. Training on 100 personal surveillance

6. STDs survey for TV & CA, prevalence

Recommendation1. Sexually transmitted diseases are a public

health problem in Palestine, as the case in other countries in the region.

2. Dealing with STDs and STIs should receive more attention by MOH and other health providers.

3.The National committee for Prevention and Control of AIDS and STDs should be reactivated and supported.

4.Condom promotion for preventive purposes should be adopted and implemented by all health providers.

5.This survey should be disseminated to all health providers, including those in the private sector, in order to ensure their involvement with MOH in prevention and control.

6.Health education program should be developed, carried out, and implemented by the National Health Education Committee.

7.Medical and community awareness should be increased by all means.

8.Adaptation and implementation of WHO guideline on STDs (Etiological and Syndromic approach to diagnosis and treatment should be reinforced

9.Medical staff should receive training on diagnosis, treatment and counseling. Laboratory technicians and health workers should be included in the training programs.

10. Clinics and laboratories should be provided with dugs needed for the treatment and prophylactic treatment, in addition to condoms for preventive purposes, as well as reagents needed for diagnosis.

11.STDs surveillance system should be improved by promoting notification and reporting by all health providers.

12.Plans for surveys on other STDs are required in order to have a complete picture about STDs in Palestine, which can assist in as improved planning of prevention activities.