The Department of Infection Prevention and Control in Imam Abdulrahman Al Faisal Hospital-Dammam held the AIDS Awareness Day under the slogan of "Hope". The National Guard Health Affairs Regional Executive Manager in the Eastern Province, Dr. Ahmed Al Arfaj said: ”This event is highly important as it promotes awareness on how to prevent AIDS among employees. Moreover, it informs and educates patients and visitors on prevention methods to reduce the transmission of this disease”.
He explained that the National Guard Health Affairs gives great attention to awareness events to achieve its mission of spreading health awareness to the public.
This event coincided with World AIDS Day. The estimated number of patients with HIV around the world reached around 33.2 million which makes it one of the most dangerous epidemics.
Dr. Wafa Al Nasser, Consultant in Infectious Diseases in Imam Abdulrahman Al Faisal Hospital said: "The ongoing health awareness of this disease is a national duty towards patients in particular and the society in general. The entire international medical community had given AIDS its full attention since its discovery until a successful treatment was found to help control it and assist patients in living a normal life with the required medication and the regular follow-ups with the specialized doctor.”