Report Warns HIV/AIDS Crisis Threatens Muslim World

Pierre · Post by **Pierre** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:29 pm

[size=18][color=red][quote]Report Warns HIV/AIDS Crisis Threatens Muslim World
By Margaret Besheer
Washington
30 June 2005

A new report says many governments in the Muslim world have been slow to respond to the spread of HIV and AIDS in their societies. The report from the Seattle, Washington-based National Bureau of Asian Research urges Muslim governments to take a more aggressive approach to HIV education and prevention.

The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS estimates the total HIV population of North Africa, the Middle East and predominantly Muslim Asia at nearly one million people, a figure the new study's authors say is severely understated.

Laura Kelley, an infectious diseases specialist and an author of the report, has been researching HIV/AIDS in the Muslim world for three years. She tells VOA that poor monitoring should not be mistaken for low infection rates. "When you start talking about the Muslim the world you are talking about 1.3 billion people. Chances are you have more than one million infected when you talk about all those countries rolled together. Inadequate surveillance has led people to believe that the disease simply doesn't exist. We are challenging leaders of these countries to go out and adequately test for the disease and find out what the real prevalences are," she said.

She says one of the problems in Muslim culture is the reluctance to admit the presence of high-risk behaviors such as intravenous drug use, prostitution, adultery, sexual promiscuity and homosexuality. "It is in part influenced by officials' unwillingness or lack of ability to address what behaviors are on the street, or what real behaviors are, as opposed to behaviors that should be expected from good Muslims," she said.

The study points to Iran as an example of a conservative Islamic society that is working to overcome this unwillingness and direct efforts at lessening the social stigma associated with the disease. Iran has passed laws requiring hospitals to treat HIV-positive people and instituted needle-exchange programs in high-drug use areas of the capital, Tehran. "Iran has taken great strides forward in creating legislation that will help them live the rest of their lives with dignity," she said.

In Bangladesh, another predominantly Muslim country, the study also found several successful initiatives geared toward education and prevention. Ms. Kelley explains the difference between the approaches in Iran and Bangladesh. "Iran it's really the government that has taken the lead in all of these things. Bangladesh has a lot going on but it's largely the NGOs [non-governmental organizations] and the international community," she said.

In the last few years, religious leaders in a number of places across the Muslim world have begun to educate people about HIV and AIDS. "They focus on prevention efforts, on abstaining from extra-marital sex or homosexual contact, and they encourage monogamy, but in cases of existing infection, they will also encourage infected people to use condoms so they do not continue to spread the disease," she said.

Although the first HIV/AIDS cases that were recorded in the Muslim world occurred in the mid-1980s, government and religious leaders have been slow to take an aggressive approach to combating the disease. The study cautions those countries could pay the price later. "Because states aren't feeling it yet doesn't mean it won't happen. If they continue to neglect the problem, they may be faced with a much larger problem," she said.

The authors recommend Muslim governments improve their efforts to learn the real infection rates in their societies, initiate sweeping legislative and social changes, and accept help from the international community, which can share its experience in HIV/AIDS education and prevention. [/quote][/color][/size]

smooth · Post by **smooth** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:30 pm

somalia will Join the Aids club thanks to your uncles

Pierre · Post by **Pierre** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:35 pm

[quote="smooth"]somalia will Join the Aids club thanks to your uncles[/quote]

Somalia is already there.

smooth · Post by **smooth** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:37 pm

somaliland was, now its Somalia

Head on head race who'll have the highest Aids precentage

Butland Vs landers

In South its getting started.

Xplosive · Post by **Xplosive** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:38 pm

[quote="Pierre"][quote="smooth"]somalia will Join the Aids club thanks to your uncles[/quote]

Somalia is already there.[/quote]

No its not. The Aids rate in Somalia is somewhere between 0-2% of the pop.

Qaarxiye · Post by **Qaarxiye** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:40 pm

Somalia and aids is oxymoron

true practising muslims dont get that unless of coarse some infedils rape muslim women.

Xplosive · Post by **Xplosive** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:41 pm

Or if some horny Somali men visit Ethiopian Prostitutes as is the case in Somaliland iyo galbeedka.

Pierre · Post by **Pierre** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:42 pm

[quote="Xplosive"][quote="Pierre"][quote="smooth"]somalia will Join the Aids club thanks to your uncles[/quote]

Somalia is already there.[/quote]

No its not. The Aids rate in Somalia is somewhere between 0-2% of the pop.[/quote]

Not quite; and I say that because in Somalia Aids is generally assosciated with the "Gay Disease" and admitting that you have Aids is tantamount to admitting that you are gay. You know of course how a gay guy will be dealt with in a hardcore islamic society. So who would come forth nd join the statistics? No its a lot more than what is officially admitted but of course nowhere as high as in Sub-Sahara Africa.

Qaarxiye · Post by **Qaarxiye** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:46 pm

True majority like 90% of the poeple who have aids are practising homosexuals i.e xabashis!

Xplosive · Post by **Xplosive** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:46 pm

Wtf is this, a battle of words? Laughing

Its estimated to be between 0 and 2% and thats it. You are allowed to think what you want. But don't make the mistake of thinking that your assumptions are more than just that... assumptions.

Pierre · Post by **Pierre** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:46 pm

[quote="Qaarxiye"]Somalia and aids is oxymoron

true practising muslims dont get that unless of coarse some infedils rape muslim women.[/quote]

Well my friend let me quote a Muslim friend of mine, who often says "Show me proof"

Show me proof that your statement has some merit....and dont quote me that practicing muslims BS because most "practicing muslims" I know love to dip it around, but they get quite offended if their wives do the same.

Xplosive · Post by **Xplosive** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:48 pm

[quote="Pierre"][quote="Qaarxiye"]Somalia and aids is oxymoron

true practising muslims dont get that unless of coarse some infedils rape muslim women.[/quote]

Well my friend let me quote a Muslim friend of mine, who often says "Show me proof"

Show me proof that your statement has some merit....and dont quote me that practicing muslims BS because most "practicing muslims" I know love to dip it around, but they get quite offended if their wives do the same.[/quote]

Why dont YOU show us proof that more than 2% of Somalis are infected with HIV? Or that most muslims like to dip it around? Laughing

Two can play that game. You may present any reliable data that you can find.

Pierre · Post by **Pierre** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:49 pm

[quote="Qaarxiye"]True majority like 90% of the poeple who have aids are practising homosexuals i.e xabashis![/quote]

The fastest rise in aids is in the female population. I guess then they must be gay-guys.

Gedo_Boy · Post by **Gedo_Boy** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:55 pm

One way out is to be involved in a monogamous relationship...........

If you even sleep around ONCE there is the possibility for AIDS.

Qaarxiye · Post by **Qaarxiye** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:59 pm

I still believe that Aids isnt a muslim thing.................it's something kuffar get and few unlucky muslims, because one: we dont have homosexuals and two most muslims dont commit adultry.