HIV on the rise as Turks go abroad: Red Crescent

ADANA - Doğan News Agency

Director General of the Turkish Red Crescent Ömer Taşlı says there has been an increase in HIV cases and awareness of society should be raised. AA photo

The increased accessibility of health services in Turkey has lead to a number of blood diseases being tackled more effectively, but there is an increase in HIV cases, Director General of the Turkish Red Crescent Ömer Taşlı has said.

“We are examining diseases in the blood samples we receive. Since all sections of society can access health facilities, a number of blood diseases have started being seen at only minimum levels,” Taşlı said at the regional seminar of the Turkish Red Crescent. “However, as Turkey gets wealthier, contacts with other countries and journeys abroad have increased. Most of our businessmen travel to South Asia, the Balkans and the Caucasus. During these travels they can receive blood or blood diseases, and Turkish society has become susceptible in terms of health. There has been an increase in HIV cases, and the awareness of society should be raised in order to prevent HIV danger,” Taşlı said, speaking at the Red Crescent regional seminar in Adana.

“Annually, 10 million Turks go abroad as tourists. In the past we only knew of tourists who came from abroad to our country, but this is not the case anymore because Turkey has grown richer. Contacts with the rest of the world have increased, and people of all ages are going abroad,” Taşlı said. “Some countries fight against contagious diseases such as AIDS with all their strength, while others do not even know how common [these diseases] are. The risks increase in the latter.”