Although Bangladesh has had a historically lower rate of HIV infection, a lack of awareness, safe sex practices and detection centers mean public health is still at risk.
The National AIDS/STD Programme (NASP project under the Health Ministry is the largest national AIDS prevention and care program which will end on December 31 leaving the very vulnerable at risk of contracting and those already affected.
The NASP is implemented by three NGOs – Mukto Akash, CAAP Confidential Approach to AIDS Prevention (CAAP) and Ashar Alo on a field level.
Director General of Directorate General of Health Services Abul Kalam Azad said the government is trying to get funding from their global partners and will hopefully extend the project.
According to data from NASP the number of detected cases of HIV in 2010 was 343, in 2011 it was 445, in 2012 it dropped to 338, in 2013 there was minor increase to 370, in 2014 it rose to 433 and in 2015 it increased to 469.
A sources at the NASP project asking not to be named said the number HIV infection this year was more than 600 but said the actual number would be revealed by the Health Minister today marking World AIDS day.
Experts cite two reasons for this rise in HIV infection in the country.
One is the fluid mobility of migrant workers from South East Asia and the Middle East and the other is the lack of safe sex practiced by long haul truck drivers.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
