The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Barisal

A week long programs on HIV/AIDS with slogan 'prevention of AIDS-our commitment, take the leadership' started on November 29 ended in Barisal on Wednesday emphasizing on upbringing moral values in personal, family and social lives and combined efforts of class of the society with commitments.

Association of Voluntary action for Society( AVAS), a prominent non-government organization of Barisal region arranged these programs funded by UNFPA included quiz and debate competitions in educational institutions and motivational discussions in religious institutions, rally, cultural functions, different types of peoples awareness programs including hoisting boards, banners,festoons,posters, lauding cassettes and CDs about HIV/AIDS.

The closing ceremony of the week long program held at Barisal BDS auditorium with a day long round table conference between the 53 prominent leaders and personalities of different professional, social, religious, cultural organizations, groups and classes.

Rahima Sultana Kajal, executive director, presided over and Murad Ahmed and Mousimi Jahan, project officials of AVAS conducted the program which was attended by Santosh Kumar Talukdar, additional divisional commissioner, Kazi Mortaz Ahmed, deputy commissioner of Barisal Metropolitan Police,Dr. Aziz Rahim, principal of Barisal SBMC,Dr. Maniruzzaman, director of Barisal SBMCH, as chief and special guests.

In the round table discussion it was revealed that number of AIDS patients in Bangladesh was detected as 626 till 2000 and it has been increased as 223 in 2006 and 333 till November 2007 and thus Bangladesh is rapidly advancing as a high risked HIV/AIDS country.

The participants emphasized on developing moral values in observing religious, social, personal and family lives as well as increasing awareness in the society for taking preventive and precautionary steps in sex life and attitude. Sermons in religious programs and functions, curriculum in text books, regular blood test and checkup of expatriate nationals and foreigners after entering inside our country, compulsion of submitting medical certificate before marriage registration and issuing health cards to the sex workers and their clients, also suggested by them.

They also called for more cautions and hard implementation in ensuring safe blood transfusion, using one time usable and dispensable injecting syringe, controlling drug addiction, learning lessons from success in HIV/AIDS prevention in Thailand and Egypt.

HIV/AIDS patients also be encouraged to prove their accountability to the society and society also have to ensure social rights of their living without any humiliation and fight against this deadly disease could only be won by a total combined and sincere efforts of all classes and professions of the society.