UNAIDS in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Population and various organizations launched World AIDS campaign 2008 to commemorate, World AIDS Day.

While Egypt remains a low prevalence country in the general population, several reposes need to be addressed for Egypt to maintain low prevalence. Risk determinants in Egypt (factors that can help the virus spread faster and make it more difficult to control) include overpopulation, a large population of young people, the group where over 50% of new HIV infections in the world take place (ages 15-24), poverty (20% of population under poverty line), continued presence of illiteracy in the general population (38%) especially among women.

The total number of people estimated to be living with HIV ranges from 7,224 to 12,635 according to UNAIDS/WHO 2007.

The campaign which commenced on November 28^th and concluded on December 18 had two main objectives:

• Advocate among decision makers and especially health professionals for improved access to quality care, support, and treatment for People living with HIV.
• Highlight individual action at the community level related to HIV response including prevention, accessing services and combating stigma and discrimination related to HIV and AIDS.

The following activities and related outcomes are highlighted:

The Youth Mobilization Day, November 28, 2008: Over 500 youth from different ages, backgrounds, and communities actively participate in this event. Through a variety of activities including Art Workshops (do it with wire, paint your own t-shirt, make a kite and fly away),  the “I can stop AIDS” awareness tunnel, Wish tree, Tug of War, Mural wall, and  a Concert by the band Iskenderella ,the day aimed to sensitize youth and raise awareness about HIV and AIDS. It also tackled humanizing HIV, by displaying a documentary portraying the problems and hardships that PLHIV encounter.

Health Administrators Forum, December 15, 2008: under the auspices of the Ministry of Health and Population, the event brought together hospital administrators from public and private hospitals, the Medical syndicate, and the Health Insurance Organization. The aim of the workshop was to discuss difficulties in accessing health care for PLHIV, promote equitable access to health care and implementation of infection control measures. The forum clarified many misconceptions especially related to understanding the regulations and policies governing treatment of people living with HIV.  The forum emphasized the legal responsibilities of doctors to treat all patients, without any form of discrimination. The discussion clarified that there is a need to articulate, disseminate and enforce a clear policy statement to all hospitals in Egypt, on the rights PLHIV to care, support, and treatment.

National Conference for Enhancing Medical Education related to HIV and AIDS, December 18^th, 2008 under the auspices of H.E. the Minister of Higher Education and in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Population conference was held at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. The forum was preceded by a high level meeting with deans from all medical schools in Egypt, the medical Sector committee and the Ministry of Health and resulted in a commitment on behalf of the deans to further improve and enhance HIV and AIDS education in the medical school curriculum and promote education on infection control within health acre settings.  The forum was attended by professors of Microbiology, Public Health, Clinical Medicine, and Pharmacology; each of these departments outlined a set of recommendations for addressing HIV and AIDS. A working group will be set up to impellent those recommendations.

Radio Spots promoting the hotline service, clarifying facts related to confidentiality, counselling, testing, treatment etc. The radio spots communicated by GWA Khaled Abol Naga and Ms. Nelly Karim were aired frequently on Negoum FM from December 1^st through December 11^th.

World AIDS Campaign is supported by: National AIDS Program/MOHP, UNAIDS (UNICEF, UNIFEM, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNODC), CARE, CRS, Coca Cola Company, NAMRU-3, Youth Groups (IFMSA, Y-Peer, GYP, Scouts), and ENNAA.

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