Shafiqul Islam (Jami)
Although the population of Bangladesh is not high yet, the number of AIDS patients is increasing day by day, according to UNAIDS, the UN agency for HIV-AIDS. According to the agency, the number of people living with AIDS in Bangladesh is now 0.1 percent of the total population and the number of people living with AIDS in Bangladesh is more than 14 thousand.
However, there are only eight thousand patients under treatment in the country. 205 people have died of AIDS in Bangladesh this year. And so far a total of 1588 people have died. However, with the advent of modern medicine and medical systems around the world, AIDS mortality rates have dropped dramatically. Now, if you get treatment at the right time, even if you are infected with AIDS, it is possible to survive for a long time. World AIDS Day has been observed annually since 1988 with the aim of creating awareness and prevention against AIDS. This year’s theme for AIDS Day is ‘End Equality, End AIDS, and Pandemics’.
AIDS treatment is officially provided in Bangladesh. Privately this is not an opportunity. There are 27 AIDS detection centers across the country and medical services are provided from 11 centers. According to the official statement of Bangladesh, at least 84% of those who have been diagnosed with AIDS can be brought under treatment. The first AIDS patient was identified in Bangladesh in 1989.
Those infected include female and male sex workers, homosexuals, TB patients, expatriate workers, hospitalized mothers and Rohingya. 33 percent of the victims are ordinary people, 8 thousand 761 people. 1,588 of them died. Among the identified, 6,104 have come under medical facilities. The remaining 1,125 infected people are still out of treatment.
According to the National AIDS / STD Control Department of Bangladesh, the rate of patients coming under AIDS is increasing every year. The rate of AIDS awareness in 2019 was 52 percent, which increased to 63 percent in 2021. Two years ago, the number of patients under medical care was 65 percent, now it stands at 77 percent.
According to the United Nations, at least 95 percent of people living with AIDS need to be treated. This goal must be achieved within the next five years. UNAIDS Bangladesh’s Country Manager Saima Khan said that the strategy of UNAIDS for the next five years is, you are equal to you. Undetectable is equaled to transmissible. The virus can reduce a person’s body a lot, but it cannot completely eradicate it. It is known that the first person to be diagnosed with AIDS in Bangladesh in 1989 is still alive and well. He is in regular contact with the HIV treatment program.
Hafiz Uddin Munna, a member of the Bangladesh Country Co-ordinating Mechanism (BCCM) Hafiz Uddin Munna said the Bangladesh government was making great efforts to treat AIDS, but some challenges remained.
However, Md. Abdul Wadud, Program Manager, National AIDS/STD Control, said, “We treat HIV patients following the World Health Organization’s Standards of Operating Procedure.” There, too, the success rate of our treatment is steadily increasing.
