BSS, Rangpur :
Experts at a sensitization meeting here have stressed creating awareness among the vulnerable group of people by disseminating knowledge to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Rangpur Drop-in-Center (DIC) of Light House Consortium under the management of International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR, B) organized the event at the Civil Surgeon’s Office on Thursday afternoon. The meeting was arranged under the Prioritized HIV Prevention Services for Key Population in Bangladesh of the Global Fund Project of ICDDR, B to bring vulnerable populations under medicare facilities for preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Health service providers, public representatives, transgender people, teachers, lawyers, police, religious leaders and civil society members participated.
Civil Surgeon of Rangpur Dr. Herambo Kumar Roy attended the meeting as the chief guest with Rangpur DIC Manager of ‘Light House’ Mohammad Shahabul Islam in the chair.
Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr. Kaniz Sabiha, City Councilor Mahbubar Rahman Monju, Advocate Sharmin Sultana and Headmaster of Rangpur Shishu Niketon High School Bimal Kumar Roy and representative of transgender community Rupa Khatun spoke.
Rangpur DIC Manager of ‘Light House’ Mohammad Shahabul Islam delivered a keynote presentation narrating activities of the organisation and the latest national-level statistics of HIV/AIDS infection and related deaths.
“A total of 8,761 people were infected with HIV viruses in Bangladesh till 2021 and of them, 729 in 2021 alone. A total of 1,588 AIDS patients died till 2021 and of them, 205 died in 2021 alone,” Shahabul said.
The speakers said the killer HIV/AIDS diseases are posing formidable threats to human life and social health with possibilities of further spread as the situation in neighbouring countries is vulnerable.
They said the situation could turn worse if vulnerable group people continue their unsafe sexual habits and blood donation as those increase possibility of spreading HIV/AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
The chief guest stressed bringing transgender people, transport workers and the sexual minority population under the HIV/AIDS prevention programme for preventing the further spread of the deadly diseases.
