Muscat – The World Health Organization has warned that the Eastern Mediterranean now has the fastest-growing HIV epidemic in the world, with new infections almost doubling in less than a decade. The region recorded about 72,000 new cases in 2024, up from 37,000 in 2016, according to WHO.

At a World AIDS Day seminar, Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, said the rise underscored a widening gap in testing and treatment. “Fewer than four in ten people know their HIV status, and less than a third are receiving treatment,” she noted. She added that stigma continued to prevent many from seeking care, pushing the region further from global targets.

The UNFPA Sub-regional Office for GCC countries highlighted Oman’s progress while cautioning that recent increases in new HIV diagnoses among citizens demand urgent attention. Oman received WHO validation in 2022 for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis, reflecting sustained investment in antenatal and primary healthcare.

However, UNFPA said the country has seen more than 140 new cases annually among Omani citizens over the past three years, with a marked rise in the 25–34 age group. Most are diagnosed late, often with low CD4 counts, increasing the risk of complications and unknowingly transmitting the virus.

UNFPA warned that the epidemic in Oman is shifting towards sexual transmission and is becoming more concentrated among young adults and key populations who may have limited access to prevention and treatment services.

The agency called for a review of laws and policies that may hinder access to HIV testing and treatment; nationwide public education campaigns to address stigma; expanded youth-focused prevention through schools; and decentralised testing, including routine health checks and voluntary self-testing.

Additional recommendations include strengthening HIV services in correctional facilities and assessing evidence-based harm-reduction measures for people who inject drugs.

Despite rising new infections, UNFPA said Oman retains the infrastructure and public-health capacity to meet the 2030 target of ending AIDS as a public-health threat. The agency stressed that renewed focus on human rights, community-based leadership and expanded prevention programmes will be essential.

Dr Hannan said the region must “frame HIV as a public health issue, not a moral judgment,” and emphasised the need for compassion, investment and partnerships with community and religious leaders.

She said the region could still reverse current trends, but only with wider testing, earlier diagnosis and efforts to dismantle stigma.