RAMADAN KAREEM ! Ramadan 2008 is from September 1 to September 30 approximately. During Ramadan the Koran requires healthy adult Muslims to fast (which includes oral medication as well as food and water) from just before sunrise to just after sunset. The Koran expressly allows for those Muslims who are ill to be exempt from fasting, "God intends every facility for you, he does not want to put you into difficulties" (Koran, 2:185).

A study in Morocco recently found that over half of Muslims who are taking medication and eligible for exemption from fasting alter their treatment regimen or stop taking medication altogether. According to Fatwa 77 (ruling by Islamic Jurists), there are persons that should refrain from fasting due to their medical conditions. Although fasting can prevent many ailments and/or medical conditions, it can also be harmful to Muslims that are HIV positive.

The Swiss network of people living with HIV, LHIVE, has published a manifesto, supporting the Swiss declaration on the non-infectiousness of people living with HIV. In January 2008 the Swiss Federal HIV/AIDS Committee (EKAF) published research in the journal “Schweizerische Ärztezeitung” , stating that “An HIV-infected individual without additional STD and on an anti-retroviral therapy (ART) with completely suppressed viremia (in the following: “effective ART”) is sexually non-infectious."

Accoridng to the Swiss researchers, a person living with HIV does not pass on HIV through sexual contact as long as:

• The HIV-positive individual complies with the anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and the effects of this treatment are evaluated regularly by the treating physician;
• The viral load (VL) has been non-detectable since at least six months (i.e. viremia is suppressed);
• There are no additional sexually transmitted infections (STI) present.