200,000 AIDS cases reported in Arab states

The regional office for the International Family Planning Federation stated that some 200,000 persons in the Arab world carry HIV, the virus which triggers AIDS, according to estimates submitted by Arab states to the World Health Organization.

In a statement circulated on the occasion of the World AIDS Day, the office said instances of AIDS in the Arab states are estimated at 12 HIV cases in per 10,000 persons, a relatively higher rate than in other parts of the world especially, East Europe and Central Asia.

The WHO asked Arab governments and NGO's to launch joint campaigns to prevent the spread of Aids, noting the need to break the "barrier of silence" which obstructs efforts exerted in this respect.