On this occasion, Noura Majad, president of the ALCS branch – Casablanca, told the Maghreb Arab Press that this screening awareness day is being organized on the occasion of World AIDS Day, highlighting that these activities allow the association to reach the most vulnerable population groups, in this case young people.
She continued: “The goal of this day is to conduct the largest possible number of tests, in order to detect positive cases,” stressing that with regard to detection, people carrying the virus are accompanied by ALCS, and directed to the support circle. .
In this sense, Ms. Majad pointed out that thanks to strict treatment, patients who carry the virus become non-transmitters and can therefore live a “normal” life, as HIV has become a chronic disease like any other.
She said: “Thanks to this type of testing awareness campaign, the association is able to reach these people, with the hope of stopping the chain of transmission.”
According to estimates of the Ministry of Health, in 2022 (published in 2023), the prevalence was 0.07%, while 21,600 people were living with HIV and 22% of PLHIV (person infected with HIV) were not aware of their serostatus or more . From 1 in 5 people.
Morocco has recorded remarkable progress in combating HIV. It is one of the rare countries in the Middle East and North Africa region that has reversed the upward curve in the number of new infections. Thus, the Kingdom reduced new infections by 50% between 2010 and 2022, and also reduced the number of deaths by 59% during the same period.
ALCS was established in 1988 by Professor Hakima Himmich and was recognized as a public utility in 1993. It is the first and most important association to combat HIV in Morocco and the North, Central and East Africa region.
ALCS is involved in the prevention of HIV infection and viral hepatitis, access to care related to these viruses as well as medical and psychosocial care for people living with HIV. ALCS is a founding member of Coalition PLUS.
