The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Speakers at an advocacy meeting yesterday urged all concerned to come forward to ensure proper treatment, care and support of the HIV infected people in the country to stop spread of the deadly disease.

They said HIV/AIDS cannot be prevented even by spending crore of Taka if proper treatment, care and support are not provided to the HIV positive people.

Organised by Mukto Akash Bangladesh, a community base organisation, the advocacy meeting on "Role of Media Personnel on Treatment of PLHIV" was held at Dhaka Reporters' Unity in the city.

Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Editor of The New Nation, addressing the meeting as the chief guest emphasised the need for creating awareness among the masses about the consequences of the HIV/AIDS.

"If we are not cautious about the disease from now on it may create major obstacles in health and development sectors," he observed.

He regretted that the activities being carried out by the NGOs in the field are timid and dependent on blessings from STD/AIDS programme officials.

The New Nation Editor said since the programme is being run under the Health Directorate under the Ministry of Health its activities have not taken a multi-sectoral dimension that it deserves.

He suggested that the HIV/AIDS related activities should have been under broad-based body like the nutrition programme so that it could work speedily through inter-ministerial efforts.

He called upon journalists to take the challenge of playing vital roles to help prevent the deadly disease before it took serious turn.

Mukti, Executive Director of the organisation, presided over the meeting while two presentations were made by Dr Tareq Salahuddin of the Daily Star and AKM Anisuzzaman, Programme Manager of MAB. Raju Rozario gave his welcome address. Journalist and human rights activist Khairuzzaman Kamal moderated the function.

Raju Rozario emphasised the need for introducing the treatment of HIV infected people in all the government hospitals.

He said media could play a vital role to reduce social stigma and discrimination about the HIV positive people.

Mukti said all should come forward and speak to ensure the proper treatment, care and support of the HIV infected people.

She emphasised the need for changing the behaviour towards HIV positive people and maintaining their confidentiality so that they can effectively cooperate in the fight against the spread of HIV infections.