Oman will continue to follow a ‘transparent’ policy in tackling Aids

By ravindranath@khaleejtimes.com


11 December 2009,

MUSCAT — Oman, which has some 1,300 registered cases of Aids, has reiterated that it will continue to follow a ‘transparent’ policy in tackling the killer disease and fully cooperate with regional and international agencies involved in the field.


The pledge came as the country joined rest of the global community in marking ‘World Aids Day’ on Tuesday with a function, attended by top dignitaries, at the College of Law in Wattayeh. The WHO top official in the sultanate, meanwhile, said the number of reported Aids cases in the country had risen by nearly 40 per cent since 2000, adding that more than 100 people were infected in the last one year alone, the highest number since 1995.

“The sultanate has been transparent in dealing with Aids, as it has revealed information which is not being revealed by other countries,” Justice Minister Under-secretary Shaikh Zaher bin Abdullah al Abri, the guest of honour, said.

“We will continue to follow this policy,” he added. Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al Saidi, Under-secretary for Health Affairs at the Ministry of Health, and Dr. Jihan al Tawilah, WHO’s representative in Muscat.

Shaikh Zaher, underlining that “avoiding the causes for the disease was the best protection against it”, said this would only be achieved by adhering to the Islamic Shariah which, he noted, “urges man to protect himself and others against hazards.” 


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