<i>A great day for drug users at rehab centre</i>
Moslem (not his real name) was busy with making paper bags at the Drop in Centre (DIC) in the city's Nayabazar area along with some other injective drug users (IDUs).
The 15-year-old boy, who was supposed to go to school with books in his lap and play with the children of similar age, was there to get support as he stepped into the net of the IDUs unfortunately.
The poor fellow used to earn money by collecting scrap metals and papers from the streets and selling those to the businessmen whom they call mahazan (money lender). Around two and half years ago, such a mahazan offered him injective drugs that finally forced the minor boy to be engrossed with this risky behaviour.
“Before coming to the DIC, I along with my friends was quite unaware of the risky behaviour that is one of the causes of transmission of HIV/Aids. We used to share needles while taking the injective drugs,” he said.
He has been receiving daytime shelter, meal, treatment, detoxification service, income-generating activities and information regarding HIV/Aids and risky behaviour, the boy added.
Like Moslem, some 697 IDUs are getting support from the Nayabazar DIC who had really a great day yesterday as they got National Cricket Team captain Mohammad Ashraful, Shakib Al Hasan and Zimbabwean cricketers Raymond Price and Vusimuzi Sibanda among them.
“It is really charming. We watched their match on television screen and now they are sitting in front of us,” said a minor IDU.
The purpose of visiting the DIC was to raise awareness in the society to eliminate stigmatisation regarding HIV/Aids and the IDUs who are often neglected.
Being there and extending the hands of friendship towards the drug users and people living with HIV/Aids was part of a global effort that the cricketers go to bat for promoting the power of information so that the young people, who are at risk, can arm themselves against deadly HIV.
The visit was organised by Unicef in collaboration with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board under 'Unite for children, unite against Aids' campaign.
“Life is much like cricket. To save the wicket, every batsman needs to negotiate each ball carefully. Likewise, cautionary steps can save a life,” said Ashraful.
Communications and Information Section Chief of Unicef Christine Jaulmes said, “As social protection is not there, many of the street children fall prey to the adults with bad intentions and often engrossed with risky behaviour.”
Under the HIV and Aids prevention project in the country, Unicef provided services to more than 100,000 people through 164 DICs in 44 districts last year, she added.
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