Sultanate among countries with least number of adult HIV cases

“In geographical areas with higher HIV prevalence, gender imbalance is more pronounced. In sub-Saharan Africa, adolescent girls and young women account for 25 per cent of new HIV infections among adults, and women account for 56 per cent of new HIV infections among adults,” points out the report.

Harmful gender norms and inequalities, insufficient access to education and sexual and reproductive health services, poverty, food insecurity and violence, are at the root of the increased HIV risk of young women and adolescent girls.

Despite the low number of cases involving surviving patients, Oman has demonstrated a commitment to the prevention of the disease and has succeeded in exerting maximum control on HIV transmission via blood and blood products in healthcare settings.

In the past four years, Oman has established a strong programme to eliminate HIV transmission from mothers to their children, offering HIV testing to all pregnant women with an acceptance rate of 99 per cent and with almost universal antenatal care.