JEDDAH — AIDS patients are complaining that they still suffer from a lack of social and medical support even though the Shoura Council has implemented a law providing them with better support. The patients have urged the government to conduct studies that better identify their needs and provide those who contracted the disease unintentionally with educational, social and health support. Abu Abdullah, and AIDS sufferer, said patients do not have rights here. He called for raising public awareness and educating healthcare professionals including doctors. He also said the media should play an active role in raising awareness about the suffering of AIDS patients. “People should know how to deal with AIDS patients and treat them well and allow them to engage in social activities and not discriminate against them, he said. “Laws alone can do nothing if the sense of social responsibility is not there,” Abdullah added. Dr. Sana Filimban, Director of the AIDS program at the Ministry of Health, said the scheme seeks to provide AIDS patients and their wives and children with social and psychological support. She said: “Our medical teams visit the homes of the patients and our medical facilities, especially King Saud Hospital, monitor their health periodically.” Social and psychological support for AIDS patients has improved a lot thanks to cooperation between the ministry and the Saudi AIDS Society, she pointed out. The private sector should hire AIDS patients and give them a chance to help develop their own country, she added. The National Society for Human Rights in Makkah region said it was the first body that asked the Shoura Council to approve a draft law protecting the rights of AIDS patients. The law stipulates that social, political, economic and civil rights should be granted to AIDS patients; a substantial allowance should be paid to retired officials who have AIDS; AIDS patients' information should remain confidential; doctors and paramedics should treat AIDS patients and not refrain from treating them; a special national center should be set up for AIDS patients; anyone who violates these regulations should be fined SR50,000 and imprisoned for six months; and anyone who knows that he has AIDS and transmits the disease intentionally should be jailed for five years.
