Lab launched to test HIV for free
Dhaka Ahsania Mission launched a voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) laboratory for drug dependants at Ahsania Mission Drug Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre, Gazipur yesterday.
Family Health International (FHI) supported the initiative for setting up the lab that will provide local people and other organisations an opportunity to test HIV free of cost.
During the launch Khandker Mohammad Ali, director general of Department of Narcotics Control (DNC), said there is a close relationship between HIV and drug abuse.
HIV infection rate among the injecting drug users is 7.1 percent in some areas of the country, he said.
Therefore it becomes imperative to accelerate HIV prevention programme alongside its cure, he added.
DNC Additional Director Abu Taleb, Gazipur Unit Superintendent Subodh Kumar Biswas, FHI Technical Officer Dr Borhan Uddin, and Dhaka Ahsania Mission Coordinator Iqbal Masud were also present at the programme.
Till now over 1,600 drug dependents have received free counseling and HIV testing under Dhaka Ahsania Mission's Modhumita Project since 2006.
Comments