Raise awareness among youths to prevent HIV/AIDS

Speakers at a programme yesterday underscored the need for raising awareness on HIV/AIDS among the young generation to prevent the deadly disease.
Though the HIV prevalence is low in Bangladesh, the country it is still considered as a high-risk country, they said adding that the country would not be able to afford the cost if the disease spread epidemic.
They also said HIV/AIDS is not only a big problem to the public health it is also big obstacle in the way of development. It is imperative to know and disseminate the correct information about the HIV/AIDS among young generation to prevent HIV infection.
Matra, an advertisement firm, organised the programme titled 'Janar Angikar Jananor Angikar' at a city hotel to present the progress and achievement of the project titled 'Prevention and control activities among the vulnerable and highly vulnerable young people'.
Save The Children, USA, with the financial assistance of Global Fund, is implementing the project as managing partner. The project is a part of the National AIDS/STD Programme.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr AFM Ruhul Haque was present as the chief guest while Sheikh Altaf Ali, secretary of the health ministry, ATM Fazlul Karim, secretary of the information ministry, Prof Dr Shah Monir Hossain, director general of Directorate General of Health Services, Rajat Gupta, chair of Global Fund Board, and Kelland Stevenson, country representative of Save The Children, USA, also spoke at the programme.
Dr AFM Ruhul Haque said though HIV prevalence is low in the country we need to study the percentage as the HIV prevalence is high in the neighbouring countries.
Praising the initiative and the campaign, he said apart from preventive activities treatment of the HIV/AIDS positive patients needs to be ensured as well.
He urged all the stakeholders to come forward in raising the awareness on the disease.