NBC News Program Profiles HIV/AIDS Clinic Director In Iran

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Article Date: 06 Apr 2007 - 9:00 PDT

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NBC's "Nightly News" on Tuesday profiled Minoo Mohraz, an HIV/AIDS specialist who directs a clinic at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran. An estimated 70,000 people in Iran are living with HIV, the majority of whom contracted HIV through injection drug use, according to the "Nightly News." About 95% of patients at Mohraz's clinic are men, but an increasing number of women are accessing treatment, and more HIV cases are resulting from sexual activity, the "Nightly News" reports. Condoms are available in the country. Mohraz is working with researchers at the University of San Francisco on a program to identify patterns of high-risk sexual behavior. Commercial sex work, premarital sex and sex among men primarily remain "underground to avoid heavy punishment," the "Nightly News" reports. Mohraz said attitudes about HIV/AIDS are changing in Iran, and she recently has received some support from the nation's top clerics. In addition, an Iranian television station recently visited the clinic for a report. The clinic also has opened an HIV-positive social club, which is thought to be the first of its kind in Iran. Most participants in the club have access to antiretroviral drugs (Williams, "Nightly News," NBC, 4/3).

Video of the segment is available online. A partial transcript of the segment also is available online.

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