More HIV/AIDS Cases in Yemen Report Says

The number of new HIV/AIDS cases in Yemen increased last year. The total number of cases announced for 2007 was 2423 compared to 2025 in 2006, a 20 percent increase. The official statistics from the Ministry of Health pointed out that the city of Sana’a ranked first in terms of new cases, followed by Aden, Taiz and Hodeidah, and finally Hadramout. The report added that 48 cases were of foreigners while the rest were Yemenis.

Many doctors doubt the report results and emphasize that the real HIV/AIDS cases in Yemen are much more in number than what is officially announced.  

Earlier in 2007, the Ministry of health said that the number of HIV/AIDS cases in Yemen were not certain and the ministry believed that there were more than 12,000 cases that were not recorded yet. 

The history of AIDS in Yemen shows that the first HIV/AIDS case was recorded in 1987.

Dr. Ahmed Al-Thabeeby, the deputy director of AIDS Combating Project at the National Council for Population, told reporters that behind every announced AIDS case there are 10 hidden cases.