The Ministry of Health, represented by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, launched today (Thursday), the updated National HIV Guidelines.
The launch event was patronized by H.E. Dr. Ahmed Salem Al-Mandhari, MOH’s Undersecretary for Planning and Health Regulation, in the presence of Dr. Amal Al-Ma’niyah, Director General of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, along with a number of ministry officials.
The preparation of the guidelines comes as part of the Ministry of Health's commitment to ensuring consistency in the provision of care and treatment services across various healthcare facilities, applying evidence-based medical best practices, enhancing the competency of healthcare workers in managing HIV cases, as well supporting the objectives of the National AIDS Strategy, and reducing the health and social burden of the virus.
The updated guidelines also includes practical and scientific recommendations in areas such as diagnosis, treatment, and long-term follow-up, in addition to addressing psychological, social, and human rights aspects related to people living with HIV.
Notably, the content of the guideline was developed in collaboration with specialized experts from Oman and abroad, adhering to international standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
On the sidelines of the launching event, a training workshop on the updated HIV Guidelines was conducted, with the participation of 150 healthcare professionals representing health institutions across the different governorates of the Sultanate of Oman.
The workshop was led by several medical professionals from the Ministry’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Royal Hospital at aimed to review the key updates in the national HIV guidelines 2025, identify the implications of the new guidelines for clinical practice, and strengthen inter-professional collaboration among HIV service providers.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention affirms that the launch of the National Guideline is a pivotal step toward improving the quality of life for people living with HIV. It also aims to reduce new infection rates and combat stigma and discrimination associated with the virus.