The preparation of the meeting has already been completed and it is expected that Prime Minister Khaleda Zia will inaugurate the meeting at 11:30am.

A secretary level meeting will be held today at the Sonargaon hotel on the eve of the third meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) health ministers.

The main agenda of the meeting include launching of third Saarc regional strategy on HIV and AIDS, review of progress in the implementation of the Report of the 2nd meeting of Saarc health ministers, mobilisation and intensification of regional action for progressive control of HIV/AIDS and Avian Influenza.

Moreover, the other agenda includes exchange of views on health policy and focus on regional collaboration, launching a regional initiative with regard to basic healthcare services and sanitation in the rural areas and to develop a Saarc plan of action for cooperation in medical expertise and pharmaceuticals, harmonisation of standard and production of affordable medicines as well as traditional medicines.

Meanwhile, final draft of the discussion has been finalised and health ministers of Saarc countries except Nepal will participate, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Khandakar Mosharaf Hossain said while addressing a press briefing at his secretariat auditorium yesterday.

"We will focus on AIDS and Bird flu in the conference as it is a great challenge for all Saarc countries to prevent HIV and Avian Influenza," the minister said.

Replying to a question, the minister admitted that so far Bangladesh has no achievement in the health sector under the Saarc. He, however, said although the Saarc was established 21 years ago, the health conference began only three years back.

The minister said the conference is attaching importance to the development of the health service and guard against various diseases of about 1500 million people of the Saarc countries.