New 370 HIV infected patients were found in the country in 2013, while their number was 2,871 till 2012. Besides, 472 patients died till 2013, according to a survey, conducted by HIV/AIDS prevention service. Experts said most of the people of Bangladesh do not have enough knowledge about AIDS and HIV though the rate of HIV/AIDS infection in this country is much lower than that of neighboring countries.Lack of adequate knowledge, stigma, discrimination and absence of an appropriate role by media are hampering the prevention of HIV and AIDS in Bangladesh, they said. The UN Children Fund in its study said the prevalence of HIV and AIDS among the general population might have cross two percent from less than 0.5 percent in 2010 and it might exceed eight percent by 2025.Bangladesh should immediately focus on the most vulnerable groups-injecting drug users and migrant workers-to keep the infection of HIV under control, the report said adding Bangladesh cannot control the disease once it goes beyond limits because of population density and dominance of sex world by high risk behavior groups.According to the study, Bangladesh has recorded 2,088 HIV/AIDS cases up to 2010, up by 343 from 1,745 in 2009. Of the total number, 850 have been recorded with AIDS since the fist HIV case was detected in Bangladesh in 1989. The experts said only 800 HIV patients out of 2871 have been brought under Anti-Recto Viral (ARV) treatment and many have remained out of treatment because of social stigma. Although still considered to be a low prevalence country, Bangladesh remains extremely vulnerable to an HIV epidemic, given its dire poverty, overpopulation, gender inequality and high levels of transactional sex, they added.World AIDS Day is celebrated on December 1 every year to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and to demonstrate international solidarity in the face of the endemic. The day is an opportunity for public and private partners to disseminate information about the status of the pandemic and to encourage progress in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care around the world, particularly in high prevalence countries.They underlined the need for creating mass awareness about HIV/AIDS across the country and said the AIDS victims should be loved instead of being stigmatized.”We should hate the disease (HIV/AIDS), not the patients,” said an expert adding a volunteer role of the doctors is very much needed to deal with the HIV/AIDS patients in the country.
