Studies conducted in Saudi Arabia have found that a big portion of HIV/AIDS cases are going unreported. The reason for this has been attributed to a stigma surrounding HIV, which causes fewer people to seek treatment. When cases go unreported it’s hard to understand how big the issue is. This has created a need for better education on what HIV is to change the stigma surrounding it.

History of HIV/AIDS in Saudi Arabia

The first case of HIV was described in the 1980s, however, reporting in Saudi Arabia did not start until 2004. Stigma has formed because people are unaware of how long this disease has been around and who it is affecting. Improvement in reporting has allowed the government and private companies to create programs to help people with HIV and in the process remove any stigma. Despite people being considerably more educated, there is still a large portion of people who feel negatively towards individuals with HIV.

Changing the Stigma

The Saudi government funded a blood screening program as early as 1984. This was a new technique at the time that helped track and diagnose the disease as it spread. In 1994, it founded the Saudi National Aids Program. Since then the government has also made treatment free for individuals diagnosed with HIV. Efforts have been made to improve public knowledge about the disease and how to get tested.

Founded as a countermeasure to the HIV epidemic, the purpose of the Saudi National Aids program is to provide education and treatment to the public. The Program has created amendments to the treatment guidelines for HIV that have allowed for more people to access care. The program claims to be responsible for improving treatment so much so that in 2018 about 93% of reported cases were currently receiving treatment.

Public awareness campaigns create awareness that the government cannot. Progress begins when citizens can support each other through difficult times. Evidence of this was found in a survey that showed that the majority of people felt that they would still be friends with someone if they had HIV/AIDS. Improvement in the resources available for communities is another way awareness is being built. The Saudi Government has released informational brochures that allow community members to educate themselves.

Making Improvements

Since the start of the 2000s, the Saudi people have worked hard to create awareness around HIV/AIDS. In that time, studies have shown improvements in public knowledge and an improvement in attitude towards the disease. The reason public awareness is so important is that it creates a safe environment for people to talk about their health issues. The improved stigma around HIV/AIDS in Saudi Arabia has led to an increase in diagnoses among men. The Saudi Arabian people have shown that they want to improve the quality of life for people with HIV/AIDS, and as public awareness rises so will the amount of people helped.

– Kaleb Monteith

Kaleb is based in Greeley, CO, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

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