The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Young people is more vulnerable to HIV or AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) said AMM Nasir Uddin, Secretary to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, at an inauguration ceremony of "World AIDS Day 2008" as chief guest at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city yesterday.

National AIDS/STD Programme (NASP), Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare organised the programme for observing the day.

Dr Md Ishaque Khan, Line Director of NASP and Safe Blood Transfusion, presented the keynote paper. He highlighted the integrated efforts of all stakeholders to prevent HIV infection.

The theme of this "World AIDS Day" is "Lead-Empower-Deliver".

Dr Ferdous Alam Shibib, Programme Manager of NASP, Prof MA Faiz, Director General of Health Services, Kamrunnessa Khanam, Director General of Family Planning, Kelland Stevenson, Country Director of Save the Children-USA, Dr Duangvadee Sungkhobol, among others, spoke.

Nasir Uddin emphasised on taking screened blood, dissemination of information of HIV or AIDS and STI among the young and adolescent people for preventing AIDS.

He urged the religious leaders to come forward to raise spiritual approach, which was cause of low level of HIV in our country till now, among the people.

The secretary emphasised on coordination among government, private organisations and NGOs in the movement against HIV.

Nasir Uddin assured to take steps for providing desirable services to HIV positive people from the government hospital.

Speakers said from 1989 to 2008 there were 1495 reported cases of HIV and 476 cases of AIDS and among them 165 died in our country.

By definition Bangladesh was a low prevalent but high vulnerable country as regards HIV or AIDS due to many existing risks, he added.

They express their commitment and called upon the policy makers to come forward to take lead, ensure empowerment at all level and deliver inputs to reduce impact of AIDS in Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, The Nari Unnayan Shakti and Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO (BNCU) in cooperation with UNESCO Dhaka Office organized a day long Seminar-cum-Workshop yesterday at the Conference Hall of BANBEIS in the city observing the World AIDS Day.Rasheda K. Chowdhury, Primary & Mass Education, Women & Children Affairs and Cultural Affairs Adviser, was present as Chief Guest while Prof. Dr. A.S.M. Yusuf Haider, Pro-vice Chancellor, University of Dhaka and Mr. A.K.T.M. Ismail, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Education, were the Special Guests.

Dr. Md. Mahmudul Hassan, Secretary of BNCU presided over the programme while Afroja Parvin, Executive Director of Nari Unnayan Shakti, presented the Keynote paper.

Dr Sultan Muhammad Razzak, Chief Adviser NUS, has fecilitated the second session of the seminar where around 100 participants were present Md Abdul, a HIV positive person, shared his experiences with all participants.