AIDS increase in Sudan due to refugees, peacekeepers – minister

Sept 16, 2005 (KHARTOUM) — Speaking at the first Student Forum to Combat AIDS at the Shahid Al-Zubair Hall, Acting Minister of Health for Khartoum State Al-Sadiq al-Hadi al-Mahdi has announced new policies to review legislation controlling the entry of foreigners into the country.

Al-Mahdi said the increase of the cases of AIDS in Khartoum State was due to the influx of refugees, intense population movement and the concentration of peacekeepers in the state, pointing out the plan of the Ministry of Health to heighten AIDS awareness over the next five years.

The head of the Khartoum State Student’s Union called for a review of medical certificates of AU international peacekeepers and mentioned an initiative by the students’ union to carry out medical tests for all boarding students.

(ST)