BWHC Observed the world AIDS Day
Bangladesh Women’s Health Coalition (BWHC) observed the world AIDS Day (December 1) on 6th December in Dhaka, Rajsahi, Khulna and Sylhet Division like every year with the collaboration of Bangladesh Government; the World AIDS Day is observed on December 1 every year to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and demonstrate international solidarity in the face of the endemic. On the occasion, Executive Director of BWHC led a rally from National Museum, Shahabag to Osmani Udyan as to celebrate the world AIDS day and ensures the co-operation always to eradicate the HIV/AIDS from Bangladesh. The STI/AIDS Network of Bangladesh, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and various NGOs brought out a procession from the Shahabag intersection on Thursday morning and paraded different thoroughfares before ending at Osmani Udyan.
This year’s theme of the day is: “Right to Health”. The Ministry of Health Family Welfare as well as different NGOs have taken elaborate programmes across the country to observe the day. The day is an opportunity for public and private partners to disseminate information about the status of the pandemic and encourage progress in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care around the world, particularly in high prevalence countries.
Experts warned that Bangladesh is a low HIV prevalence country with several well-documented at-risk groups, the most prominent of which is brothel-based sex workers and injecting drug users. Although prevalence rate is remaining low in the country, it is surrounded by nations with much higher prevalence rates and with its own at-risk population. According to a report National AIDS / STD Programme (NASP) and UNAIDS Bangladesh (2016), cumulative number of reported HIV cases till December 2015 stands at 4,143 and deaths at 658. From 2010 to 2016, new HIV infections among children were reduced by 56% in eastern and southern Africa, the region most affected by HIV, and by 47% globally, the UNAIDS added.
Hon’ble Minister Mohammad Nasim, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in the occasion of Osmani Memorial Auditorium that Bangladesh has been successful in controlling HIV and AIDS and it must continue the existing efforts to end these sexually transmitted diseases by 2030 for this the government along with local and international organizations need to work together to establish HIV/AIDS free Bangladesh.