The HIV infection is now spreading in the Arab World Region at alarming rates. Out of an estimated 38.6 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide by the end of 2005, 440.000 were registered in the Middle East and North Africa region, 68.000 new infections occurred, around 37.000 people in the Region died of AIDS.

In the region the estimated number of people needing ARV treatment were 75.000 by December 2005, and the estimated number of people that had received ARV treatment was 4.000 which is 5 % of the ARV treatment coverage.[1]

The Arab World is less affected by HIV/AIDS than other regions of the world with most countries having a prevalence rate of less than 1%. –Nonetheless, countries like Sudan and Djibouti have higher prevalence rates. Focused efforts are needed urgently to ensure access to prevention, care and treatment for all people especially women and young persons. The low number of HIV infections does not mean low risk.

Major challenges and obstacles are faced within the region such as social practices against women, Female Genital Mutilation and early marriage, illiteracy and stigma and discrimination against PLWHIV.

The progress of the past few years working in the field however, is outweighed by unaddressed needs of PLWHIV suffering from Stigma and Discrimination. We are working to advocate for their rights and to make linkages between SRH services and HIV/AIDS available for them.   

IPPF/AWR places special emphasize on HIV/AIDS programmes to offer a wide range of services from prevention to care:

§         Promoting the condom use

§         Providing information and education to adopt Safer SRH behavior

§         STIs management

§         Integration of Voluntary Counseling and Testing in SRH service delivery points

§         Providing services to prevent mother to child transmission

§         Making linkages available between SRH and HIV/AIDS services

§         Addressing the SRH unaddressed needs of PLWH.

Over the last years, we have supported our Member associations in the Arab World to integrate HIV/AIDS in their existing SRH Programs.

Sudan, Morocco and Djibouti are our HIV/AIDS Focal countries working in different context from high to low HIV prevalence rate. Many activities and programs were implemented:

•  Sudan MA is going to implement a PMTCT programme and scale up HIV prevention and treatment though 4 VCT/ARV centers
• Morocco MA though the Global Fund is increasing HIV awareness among young people
• Sudan MA is developing a Report Card to strengthen HIV Prevention strategies for girls and young women. The Card will provide a country profile, information on HIV prevention from the legal, policy, service availability and accessibility, rights and participation perspectives. This will be used as an advocacy tool (joint initiative UNFPA –IPPF)
• Syria MA has integrated VCT within its Youth Friendly Centers 
• All MAs are working on prevention issues through providing information and education using appropriate interventions to reach different categories in the communities ‘