HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh

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HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh

HIV infection alarming among drug users

Random blood samples show 4pc of addicts infected

HIV has reached alarming proportions among intravenous drug users, as

high-risk behaviours continue. This year, the fourth round of

sero-surveillance or random blood sample investigation and behavioural

surveillance has detected four per cent HIV prevalence among the injecting

drug users in central Bangladesh, health ministry officials disclosed at a

press conference yesterday at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal

Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,.The report titled " HIV in Bangladesh:

Is the time running out? " revealed that the prevalence of the virus that

causes AIDS is less than one per cent among other vulnerable groups like

floating sex workers and hermaphrodites, their male clients, homosexuals,

sex workers in brothels etc. But, unfortunately, the low HIV infection rate

in these groups is not due to decrease in high-risk behaviours. The survey

revealed a higher percentage of men buying sex in Bangladesh than elsewhere

in Asia.

In his opening speech, Director of the ICDDR,B Dr A Sack said,

" We should care for the HIV positive patients and voluntary counselling and

blood testing. For those who have tested positive, there should be a

programme of care, treatment and, if necessary, rehabilitation instead of

leaving them on their own. "

The report also showed that the majority of men still do not use

condoms in commercial sex and female sex workers report the lowest condom

use in the region. About two-thirds of rickshaw-pullers and truck drivers

reported during the survey that they never touched condom and they had no

idea of HIV exposure.

The survey pointed out that contrary to the common belief, injecting

drug users are not isolated. They are linked with the rest of society. They

buy sex from commercial sex workers, sell blood and move between cities.

Describing the findings as 'a matter of great concern', Director General of

Health Services Dr Mizanur Rahman at the launch of the surveillance report

on Wednesday, said, " This upsurge of HIV infection among a particular

vulnerable group is quite a serious matter. It is also the most-cost

effective option for a country like ours to halt the virus before the

economic burden becomes too large to bear. "

Dr Tasnim Azim, one of the researchers who helped prepare the report,

presented the document at the press conference. Motiur Rahman, chairman of

the National AIDS Committee's technical body, and Dr Ishtiaq A Zaman, head

of the ICDDR,B's external relations and deputy programme manager of STD and

AIDS programme, were also present. (Source: The Daily Star, July 30, 2003).

From:

Khairuzzaman Kamal

Executive Director

BMSF-Dhaka

E-mail: bmsf@...