Awareness a must to prevent HIV/AIDS

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Vice Chancellor Prof Nazrul Islam speaks at a discussion Styled 'Empowerment and Service Delivery: AIDS Perspective Bangladesh' at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city yesterday. On his left are Nasiruddin Yusuf Bachchu and Dr Nazneen Akhter and on his right are Nizam Uddin Ahmed and Dr Md Ishak Khan.Photo: STAR

Speakers at a discussion yesterday said though the prevalence of HIV/AIDS is still only one percent, there is nothing to be contented as Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries for its geographical location, huge population and low-level educational status.
It is time to disseminate complete messages among the people about HIV/AIDS properly so that they could be empowered and build strong resistance in the community against the disease, they added.
Styled 'Empowerment and Service Delivery: AIDS Perspective Bangladesh', the discussion was organised by the daily Prothom Alo at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city.
The speakers said the HIV situation in the country is far better than that of its neighbouring countries due to its culture, religious barrier and awareness campaign taken by the government and non-government organisations.
“We need not to be panicked, but we must understand that it is time for raising awareness of HIV/AIDS at every level as still very few people know about the causes of AIDS, how to prevent it and who the vulnerable groups are,” they added.
They said around four crore people are aged between 15 and 24 in the country. In 50 percent cases, the disease spreads through the people who belong to this age group. So, more attention should be given to the people belonging to this age brackets.
Quoting a research finding, HIV/AIDS Sector Director of Save the Children USA Dr Nezam Uddin Ahmed said 90 percent children have ever heard about HIV/AIDS but only 25 percent of them know how it spreads. While two percent are going through a denial phase who think that they would not get infected with HIV/AIDS.
Presenting a keynote paper, he said, “So, it is important to disseminate total messages among this group through proper channel,” adding that it is good that the government has introduced the issue of HIV/AIDS in school curriculum from grade 6 to 12.
It would force the students to know about AIDS and take preventive measures and at the same time teachers' training in this regard would also be helpful for the students in getting clear messages, he added.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Vice Chancellor Prof Nazrul Islam underscored the importance of providing proper care and treatment for the people living with HIV/AIDS or get HIV infected.
“They should be taken care of for ensuring a better life while they must be registered and observed so that they cannot spread the deadly virus,” he said, adding that sex workers, injective drug users, males having sex with males, migrant and garment workers are belonging to most vulnerable groups and attention should be paid much to these groups especially.
There are more than one lakh sex workers in the country. Every sex worker attends some five customers on an average every day and if the workers get infected with the disease, they would transmit the disease to five lakh people every day, he added.
The speakers called on all to be a responsible citizen, live healthy life and take measures to prevent the disease like using condom during sexual intercourse, screening blood during blood transfusion and maintaining the religious norms.
At the same time, the government should consider AIDS as a threat to the nation and move forward to address the issue with due commitment, they said, adding that mass media can also play an important role.
Moderated by Dr Abdun Noor Tushar, the discussion was also addressed by Editor of the Prothom Alo Matiur Rahman, NASP Line Director Dr Md Ishak Khan, Treasurer of STD/AIDS Network Dr Nazneen Akhter, Executive Director of Ashar Alo Society Habiba Akter, Awami League leader Dr Dipu Moni, Shahnaz Begum of Durjay Nari Sangha and cultural activist Nasiruddin Yusuf Bachchu also spoke the discussion.