New York, June 10, 2022, SPA -- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has confirmed its keenness on taking care and protecting the health of humans living on its territories, including those who contracted the Aquired Immunity Difficiency Syndrome (AIDS), citing that it has provided preventive and treatment programs to combat the disease. This came in a speech delivered by the Saudi Charge d'Affaires of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's permanent delegation to the United Nations in New York Counselor Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Atiq during the general assembly's session to discuss the declaration on AIDS. Al-Atiq gave an account on Saudi Arabia's history on fighting the human-transferred disease, citing that it has initiated the National Program to Combat AIDS in 1994 with 20 branchs inside the country. He explained that the program provides all services helping to prevent the transfer of the virus as well as the health care including treatment, and psychological and social services. The program also enlightens all members of the society, including mothers and children, on the symptoms of the disease. Al-Atiq also cast light on the reforms targeting the AIDS-contracting category, including their rights and duties issued in 2018. He drew the attention that the system warns from forcing pregnant contractors to abort or deprive them from taking direct care of their infants. Despite the fact that Saudi Arabia is among the least contracting countries of AIDS, its laws and systems bar any act that constitutes segregation against those inflicted. Saudi Arabia is committed to put and implement every national plan and legislation to protect the rights of its nationals or expatriates on its territories, Al-Atiq said, adding that it also supports regional and international strategies aiming to eradicate AIDS by 2030 in a way that complys with its legislative and national frameworks and religious and cultural values. --SPA 11:29 LOCAL TIME 08:29 GMT 0007 www.spa.gov.sa/w1744851