World Health Organization
منظمة الصحة العالمية
Organisation mondiale de la Santé

HIV in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region

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HIV estimates

Number_of_PLHIV_in_the_Region

Fig. 1 Estimated number of PLHIV in the Region 2010–2016

Distribution_of_PLHIV

Fig 2. Distribution of PLHIV in the Region

New_infections_2010-2017

Fig. 3 New infections 2010–2016

Distribution_of_new_infections_2016

Fig 4. Distribution of new infections 2016

HIV in key populations at higher risk

ART coverage

The number of PLHIV receiving antiretroviral therapy doubled from 2013 reaching 54 300 in 2016. Nonetheless, the Region continues to demonstrate the lowest coverage.

ART coverage varies across countries in the Region; where high ART coverage is reported in countries such as Qatar (86%), Kuwait (80%), Jordan (55%) Morocco (48%), other countries such as Afghanistan (7%), Pakistan (7%) and Sudan (10%) still have a very low coverage.

Cascade_of_care

Fig. 5 HIV cascade of care in the Region

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ART_coverage_in_the_Region

Fig. 6 ART coverage in the Region 2010–2016

ART_coverage_in_selected_countries

Fig. 7 ART coverage in selected countries 2016

HIV testing

Testing and treatment

Strategic information

Strategic and operational planning

Issues and challenges

Stigma is rife in the Region and presents a major obstacle to uptake of HIV services

National responses have been challenged by the nature of the epidemic which is concentrated in key populations at increased risk of HIV exposure. Those populations are highly stigmatized and discriminated against. Political developments in the past decade in the Region have not been conducive to de-criminalization and de-stigmatization.

Among rivalling communicable disease priorities, HIV is considered a low priority by many countries.

There is concern that HIV estimates are not very accurate in most countries of the Region because:

The majority of PLHIV in the Region do not access HIV testing and therefore do not know their HIV status. The majority of HIV testing services use service delivery approaches that do not attract key populations (testing centralized in hospital/clinic laboratories).

While some successful service delivery approaches implemented through NGOs do exist, their reach is insufficient. Overall, there is still limited experience in countries, including among civil society organizations in implementing the most efficient approaches to increasing demand and providing HIV testing services for HIV testing among those most likely to be HIV positive. This is largely due to government restrictions on NGOs and the related lack of funding support for NGO service delivery. In the current political climate in most countries it is not anticipated that NGOs will receive more support soon.

ART coverage remains low:

In most low-income countries of the Region, the HIV response is largely dependent on external donor funding. This is a reflection of the limited political commitment and low HIV priority given to HIV in countries.

Conclusions

Related link

World AIDS Day 2017