Preventing HIV/AIDS in the Middle East and North Africa : A Window of Opportunity to Act

World Bank

Washington, DC

关键词: ACCESS TO CONDOMS;    ACCESS TO INTERVENTIONS;    ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME;    ADVOCACY EFFORTS;    AIDS CASES;   

DOI  :  10.1596/978-0-8213-6264-8
RP-ID  :  34348

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

This document presents the rationale foraddressing HIV/AIDS in the Middle East and North Africa(MENA) region (including Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt,Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco,Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United ArabEmirates, the West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen), and theBank's strategic choices in supporting countries toprevent the spread of the disease. As one of the shocks thatcan drive households into abject poverty, HIV/AIDS has thepotential to impede, and even reverse, development if notaddressed early enough. Prevalence levels in the MENA regionare low, compared to other areas, but recent evidenceindicates that infection rates are increasing. Greaterinvestments to improve HIV/AIDS advocacy, develop aninformation base, and implement prevention strategies amonghigh-risk groups are needed, before prevalence levels reachepidemic proportions. Through investments in these areas,the region can avoid the increase in human suffering awidespread epidemic could bring, and preserve the benefitsof national and regional development investments put inplace by governments, and development partners. Thisregional strategy clarifies the role of the Bank inconfronting the epidemic, based on a review of regional andnational needs, and responses to those needs, as well as theareas in which the Bank is best positioned to supportcountries' efforts.