Kuwait leads MENA region in achieving 90-90-90 HIV targets: UN
GENEVA, March 8: Kuwait's permanent delegation to Geneva highlighted the country's significant progress in combating the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at the national level, according to United Nations reports. This success is largely attributed to the expansion of free, confidential voluntary testing and the provision of preventive treatments both before and after exposure to infection.
The statement was delivered by Diplomatic Attaché Sarah Al-Hasawi on behalf of the State of Kuwait at the 58th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, during a panel discussion on combating HIV. Al-Hasawi outlined that Kuwait has led the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in achieving the 90-90-90 targets. These indicators mean that 90% of people living with HIV are aware of their infection, 90% of those diagnosed are receiving antiretroviral treatment, and 90% of those receiving treatment have an undetectable viral load in their blood.
She also emphasized that Kuwait is making steady progress toward the next goal, the 95-95-95 indicators, as part of its national strategy to combat AIDS.
Additionally, Al-Hasawi noted that Kuwait has allowed the employment of individuals living with HIV in jobs that do not pose a risk to their health or others, ensuring their full integration into society. She stressed that Kuwait has adopted premarital medical examinations as part of its strategy to enhance health prevention. The country continues to implement widespread awareness campaigns to fight social stigma and encourage individuals to get tested, particularly in schools and universities, to promote effective prevention efforts.
On the international front, Al-Hasawi highlighted Kuwait's ongoing support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, with contributions totaling $27 million over the past 20 years. These funds have been crucial in ensuring equitable access to treatment and supporting the global effort to eliminate AIDS by 2030.
In conclusion, Al-Hasawi reaffirmed Kuwait's commitment to the belief that the right to health is a fundamental human right. She emphasized that combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic requires non-discrimination, the preservation of dignity, and the protection of the privacy of those infected. Furthermore, she called for a unified global response to tackle the virus comprehensively.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Kuwait Times
2 days ago
- Kuwait Times
Outrage over more Zionist carnage as Gazans seek food
GAZA: Rescuers said the Zionist military killed at least 27 people near a US-backed aid center in Gaza on Tuesday, with the army reporting it had fired on 'suspects who advanced toward the troops'. United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Tuesday slammed as 'unacceptable' the deaths of Palestinians seeking food aid in Gaza, a spokesman said, calling the loss of life in the territory 'unthinkable'. The White House said it is aware of reports of Zionist troops firing on Palestinian aid seekers. The UN human rights chief condemned such attacks on civilians as 'a war crime' after a similar shooting in the same area on Sunday killed and wounded scores of Palestinians seeking aid, according to the civil defense agency. 'We are witnessing unthinkable loss of life in Gaza (and) the secretary-general condemns the loss of lives and injuries of Palestinians seeking aid. It is unacceptable civilians are risking and in several instances losing their lives just trying to get food,' UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. 'We're going to look into reports before we confirm them from this podium or before we take action,' said White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt at a press briefing. Tuesday's deaths in the southern city of Rafah came as rescuers reported 19 people killed in other Zionist attacks in the territory, and as the Zionist army announced three soldiers had been killed in northern Gaza. 'Twenty-seven people were killed and more than 90 injured in the massacre targeting civilians who were waiting for American aid in the Al-Alam area of Rafah,' said civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal, who earlier told AFP the deaths occurred 'when (Zionist) forces opened fire with tanks and drones'. The International Committee of the Red Cross said its field hospital in Gaza's Rafah city recorded 27 deaths on Tuesday, matching the toll given by rescuers. 'Early this morning, the 60-bed Red Cross Field Hospital in Rafah received a mass casualty influx of 184 patients. This includes 19 cases who were declared dead upon arrival and eight more who died due to their wounds shortly after,' the ICRC said. The organization added in a statement that survivors of the early morning incident said they had been 'trying to reach an assistance distribution site'. The ICRC said Tuesday's shooting caused 'the highest number of weapon-wounded patients received in a single incident' since the field hospital opened more than a year ago. 'The unprecedented scale and frequency of recent mass casualty incidents treated at the field hospital is deeply worrying and illustrates the harrowing reality that civilians in Gaza are being forced to endure,' it added. The Al-Alam roundabout is about a kilometer from a center run by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a recently formed group that the Zionist entity has worked with to implement a new aid distribution mechanism in the territory. The United Nations and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with the group over concerns it was designed to cater to Zionist military objectives. At Nasser Hospital, the husband and children of Reem Al-Akhras, who was killed at Al-Alam, were beside themselves with grief. 'How can I let you go, mum?' her son Zain Zidan said through tears as he cradled her white-shrouded head outside the hospital. 'She went to bring us some food, and this is what happened to her.' Akhras's husband, Mohamed Zidan, said 'every day, unarmed people' were being killed. 'They carry no weapons or knives — just bags to collect aid. 'This is not humanitarian aid; it's a trap,' he said. Rania Al-Astal, 30, said she had gone to Al-Alam with her husband to try to get food. 'The shooting began intermittently around 5:00 am. Every time people approached Al-Alam roundabout, they were fired upon,' she told AFP. 'But people didn't care and rushed forward all at once — that's when the army began firing heavily.' Fellow witness Mohammed al-Shaer, 44, said at first 'the (Zionist) army fired shots into the air, then began shooting directly at the people'. In the end, he said, 'I didn't reach the center, and we didn't get any food.' The previous shooting on Sunday killed at least 31 people at the Al-Alam roundabout as they congregated before heading to the aid center, rescuers said. 'Deadly attacks on distraught civilians trying to access the paltry amounts of food aid in Gaza are unconscionable,' UN human rights chief Volker Turk said after Tuesday's deaths. 'Attacks directed against civilians constitute a grave breach of international law and a war crime.' GHF on Tuesday named an evangelical Christian leader as its new chairman. The appointment of Reverend Johnnie Moore 'underscores GHF's determination to pair operational excellence with experienced, service-oriented leadership,' the group's acting executive director John Acree said in a statement. 'His insight will be invaluable as we build on our early success.' Moore has had a confrontational approach to the United Nations. After Guterres expressed revulsion at 'reports of Palestinians killed and injured while seeking aid in Gaza' on Sunday, Moore responded angrily. 'Mr Secretary General, it was a lie,' the reverend posted to Guterres on X, 'spread by terrorists & you're still spreading it. Correct this.' On Tuesday a leading US management consulting firm that helped create the GHF said it has terminated its contract with the organization and placed the partner leading the project on leave. Boston Consulting Group helped establish the GHF in Oct 2024. 'Unapproved follow-on work relating to Gaza lacked buy-in from multilateral stakeholders and was stopped on May 30. BCG has not and will not be paid for any of this work,' the group said in a statement. BCG said a formal review of the work has begun, and 'the partner who led this work has been placed on administrative leave.' The Zionist entity has come under mounting pressure to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where people are facing severe shortages after the Zionist entity imposed a more than two-month blockade on supplies. The health ministry in Gaza said at least 4,240 people have been killed in the territory since the Zionist entity resumed its offensive on March 18, taking the war's overall toll to 54,510, mostly civilians. – Agencies
Kuwait Times
2 days ago
- Kuwait Times
Rare views of Al-Hala Island documented by Kuwaiti photographer
KUWAIT: Kuwaiti environmentalist and photographer Dr Abdullah Al-Zaidan has successfully observed and documented the rare natural phenomenon of Al-Hala Island, located in the southern part of Kuwaiti waters, specifically in the Al-Zour area. The island is a stunning and unusual natural feature. Speaking to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Tuesday, Al-Zaidan explained that Al-Hala is a temporary sandbar that emerges during low tide and completely disappears during high tide. Its unique nature makes it a favored destination for nature lovers and those seeking tranquility. He added that the island's transformation is a key attraction, making it a prime spot for environmental marine tourism. Visitors are drawn to this nontraditional experience amid the clear waters of the Gulf, where they can engage with untouched nature far from pollution and urban development. Al-Hala Island Fish swim near the coral reefs in the waters surrounding Al-Hala Island. An endangered green turtle swims underwater at the island. Al-Zaidan emphasized that visiting Al-Hala Island helps raise environmental awareness and promotes sustainable tourism, which balances enjoyment with the preservation of natural ecosystems. Regarding the surrounding area, he noted that the Al-Zour coastline is ecologically significant due to minimal human activity and construction, making it a vital habitat. It hosts endangered green turtles, which come to nest and lay eggs during specific seasons, and it is home to vibrant coral reefs essential to marine biodiversity. The area also serves as a resting site for migratory and resident seabirds, which use the island as a natural stopover along the coast. Dr Al-Zaidan concluded by stressing the importance of protecting these fragile marine areas and encouraging mindful visits to help preserve marine life and ensure ecological balance for future generations. — KUNA
Kuwait Times
2 days ago
- Kuwait Times
‘All I think about is Gaza': War weighs heavy on hajj pilgrims
The is an 'the opportunity of a lifetime' MAKKAH: Away from home in Gaza, Palestinian pilgrim Mohammed Shehade said the rare chance he was given to perform hajj is overshadowed by fears for his family trapped in the war-battered territory. The 38-year-old engineer had been granted a permit to leave as he sought life-saving cancer treatment in Egypt, but Zionist authorities barred his family from accompanying him. He said his departure from the Gaza Strip in February presented him with 'the opportunity of a lifetime' to apply for the annual Muslim pilgrimage, which begins on Wednesday. But even as he visited the holy sites in the Saudi city of Makkah, his heart was heavy with thoughts of his wife and four children stuck in Gaza under relentless bombardment. 'This is life's greatest suffering, to be far away from your family,' Shehade told AFP on a roadside leading to Makkah's Grand Mosque. He is among hundreds of Gazans set to perform Islam's holiest rites alongside more than a million worshippers from across the globe. As pilgrims robed in white filed by, Shehade said he had been praying day and night for the Gaza war to end and to be reunited with his family. 'You could be in the best place in the world but if you are away from your family, you will never be happy,' he said. 'Between two fires' Zionist entity has relentlessly attacked Gaza since militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on October 7, 2023, stopping the blistering military offensive only during two short-lived truces. Leaving Gaza has become practically impossible for most inhabitants, but some like Shehade have been evacuated on medical grounds. 'Here I am preparing to perform hajj but there are things I can't speak about. If I do I will cry,' he said as tears began to form in his eyes. Shehade left Gaza during a truce, but Zionist entity has since renewed its intense bombing campaign and blocked aid deliveries, with the United Nations warning of widespread famine. 'When I left I was caught between two fires,' Shehade said of the choice to travel for an essential surgery and leave his family behind. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said on Sunday that at least 4,149 people have been killed in the territory since Zionist entity resumed its offensive on March 18, taking the war's overall deaths toll to 54,418, mostly civilians. 2023 attack that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, also mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. US President Donald Trump said Friday that a new ceasefire deal was 'very close', but the negotiations have appeared to hit another dead end. Disillusioned after over a year and a half of failed talks, Shehade said he has 'grown scared of being optimistic and becoming disappointed once more'. Prayers for peace About 1,350 Gazans mostly residing in Egypt, in addition to another 500 who have been invited as guests of the Saudi king, are set to perform hajj this year, Palestinian officials said. One Gazan pilgrim, Rajaee Rajeh al-Kahlout, 48, fled the Palestinian territory for Egypt with his four children and his wife seven months after war erupted. His home was destroyed and his import-export business shattered. While hajj is normally a source of joy, Kahlout said it was impossible for him to think of celebrations. 'All my family, my sisters and brothers, are still in Gaza... Every waking moment, we fear for our family,' he told AFP, calling on pilgrims to pray for the war to end and loved ones to be reunited once more. 'I wish I could have come here during better times, without war, death and destruction.' The hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, must be completed by all Muslims with the means at least once. Official permits are allocated to countries through a quota system and distributed to individuals via a lottery. In the lobby of the Al-Nuzha Plus hotel in Makkah, where Gazan pilgrims are staying, a widow in her 60s told AFP she had not seen her 10 children since she was evacuated for medical reasons last year. She said she was praying for 'the children of Palestine' suffering from starvation and conflict. 'All I think about is Gaza, my whole life is there: my children, my home... I want to return.' - AFP
