A recent survey of the National AIDS Program showed that our younger population is becoming sexually active at a continuously younger age. Today, the mean age in Lebanon for the first sexual intercourse is 15 years of age. And 70% of these have unprotected sex. Hence, the increased risk of being infected by a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) such as HIV.
Moreover, in Lebanon sexuality is still taboo. Hence, issues relating to sexual and reproductive health are sadely still scorned upon and often neglected by the public. The reality of our situation is too often ignored.
The Lebanese statistics by December 2003 showed that:
• We have 756 cases of HIV positive people in Lebanon, 270 of which have full blown AIDS.
• The main mode of transmission is sexual (77%) and heterosexual behavior is the most common method with 58%, homosexual behavior only being a cause in 8%.
• 81% of infected people are males.
• Please note that only 45 % have a history of travel and possible outside infection. The rest were infected in Lebanon hence the suspicion of a Lebanese focus of HIV increasing our population's exposure and risk for infection.
• Compared to previous years, the percentage of young people infected is also on the rise (15% of the HIV positive population).
Thus the need arises for awareness organizations like SCORA
Furthermore, Lebanese HIV positive patients suffer from economic constraints because of the monthly tests they have to perform to monitor the extent of their disease. These tests, such as the CD4 count test, are costly and important in the management of the syndrome. However, the Ministry of Health unfortunately not yet covers them. We have hence, attempted to alleviate this problem by creating the HIV/AIDS patients' fund at AUBMC out patient AIDS clinic 2 years ago. This fund offers free testing for those who are in need.
Over the past two years more than 50 HIV positive patients have benefited from this fund. However, what we are providing is still the bare minimum of what is really needed. We are still in constant need of financial input to keep this fund going, and even more important to be able to expand this fund to more tests and more patients in need.
Read more about HIV / AIDS here.
