Kuwaiti HIV figures released:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Kuwaiti health authorities have released figures showing that some 100 nationals and 800 foreigners have been diagnosed with HIV since screening began in 1984. Dr Abdul Aziz Al Enezi, director of Kuwait's infectious diseases hospital, told Al Qabas newspaper that the foreigners had all been repatriated in accordance with the country's laws on expatriates diagnosed with HIV, tuberculosis or hepatitis B or C. Expatriates, who constitute two-thirds of the country's 2.2 million inhabitants, are obliged to test for these diseases prior to taking up employment in the country. The number of Kuwaitis with HIV could also be higher, as they are not obliged to undergo screening unless applying for public sector employment or donating blood. Dr Enezi was not able to disclose how many Kuwaitis had died as a result of having contracted AIDS.