Committee: World Health Organization

Agenda: Prevention and Cure for HIV AIDS

Name: John Carlo H. Babasa
Delegate of Oman
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic condition that affects a
person’s immune system caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). It weakens
one’s immune system until it makes the person susceptible to many other diseases which
ultimately causes the person to expire. There is no cure for AIDS but proper medication is
shown to dramatically slow its progress (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2020). Approximately, as of 2019,
it affects 38 million people around the globe (Global Statistics, 2020). 
           To make comprehensive collaborative global action against HIV, the United Nations
had established The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS). One of its
main efforts focused on building networks and partnerships among different associations
and countries to help HIV patients and prevent the spread of infection. Also, an integral part
of Sustainable Development Goals includes ending HIV by 2030. To fast track this goal,
UNAIDS aims to reach 90% of patients living with HIV, 90% of people who know their HIV-
positive status on treatment; and 90% of people on antiviral suppressants. The Fast Track
approach of UNAIDS stresses the need to focus efforts on certain cities, regions, and
countries which are the most affected by AIDS. It is recommended that resources will be
concentrated in these areas (UNAIDS, 2020).
           In Oman, the first recorded AIDS infection was reported in 1984. Since then, the
government of Oman has made substantial efforts to control and mitigate the number of
people getting infected by HIV. They established different interventions to prevent the
numbers of HIV patients in their country from blowing up. Biomedical interventions involve
the use of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) which improves the health of the HIV patients,
reduces the risk of the person transmitting the disease, and decreases the susceptibility of
the patient to other diseases. Another intervention that they did is the behavioral
intervention. They addressed the current lack of knowledge and skill and negative attitudes
and beliefs to discourage risky behavior that would get a person infected with HIV. They
encouraged the use of condoms amongst their people and urge them to reduce the number
of their sexual partners. Lastly, they implemented a structural intervention to prevent HIV
infections. Different structures affect the vulnerability of an HIV patient. These structures
have a direct effect on how these vulnerable groups would go on with their medication.
With structural intervention, Oman public health workers seek to remove the stigma
surrounding HIV. They did this by doing awareness-raising seminars, involving religious and
community leaders, using media to disseminate information, and engaging to the members
of the community. (National AIDS Program and Ministry of Health, 2015).
           All of these interventions seem to be fruitful as a study shows that the prevalence of
the HIV epidemic in Oman is low. From 1984 to 2018, the total recorded cases of HIV
infection in Oman is 3,060. The use of ART is also seen to have increased by 57%. In 2015,
about 67.6% of patients living with HIV know their status, 65% are on ART, and 48% attained
virologic suppression (Al Awaidy and Sharanya, 2019). However, the mortality rate is still
high. About 48.8% of patients diagnosed in 1984-2018 are already deceased. The risk factor
of HIV infection also changed over time. About 80.7% of new HIV cases recorded in 2013-
2018 got infected from having sexual intercourse. It increased from 56.3% in 1984-1996
(Elgalib et al., 2020). It can be said that Oman is one of the countries that is low in the
priority list of UNAIDS in regards to AIDS because of their effective interventions. However,
there is still room for improvement on how the Oman government should handle the HIV
cases in their country.  
Solutions: 
1. Identify more root causes of HIV infection in the country and establish ways to
prevent or mitigate these identified roots of infection.
2. Organize a more extensive contact tracing and follow-up on HIV patients to
effectively minimize the risk of spreading the infection.
3. Urge the Oman government to join the efforts of UNAIDS to reach 90% of HIV
patients in their country. 
4. Encourage organizations and stakeholders to collaborate to raise awareness among
their groups and other communities about AIDS.
5. If possible, recommend allocating a higher budget for AIDS medications so that more
people can avail them.
6. Urge the government to make more projects and seminars to help public health
officials improve their skills in dealing with complex diseases in the community such
as AIDS. 
References:
 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hiv-aids/symptoms-causes/syc-
20373524#:~:text=Acquired%20immunodeficiency%20syndrome%20(AIDS)%20is,to
%20fight%20infection%20and%20disease.
 https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/data-and-trends/global-statistics
 https://www.moh.gov.om/documents/236878/0/A+guide+for+health+care+workers
/2ef88339-1211-43b3-ad4a-8b326bc3c9a3
 https://www.atlantis-press.com/journals/jegh/125933139/view
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6330192/#:~:text=Since%20the
%20report%20of%20the,a%20prevalence%20of%20%3C%201%25.
 https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/pressreleaseandstatementarchiv
e/2014/november/20141118_PR_WAD2014report