The infection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has increased more than 25 per cent in the country over the past one year. This was disclosed at an advocacy workshop with media personnel on HIV and AIDS in the city on Saturday. The workshop also informed that a total of 370 persons were infected by HIV and 82 persons died in 2013. Among the infected persons 63 per cent is male, 35.9 percent female and 1.5 per cent transgender. The workshop was held at Ahsania Mission Bhaban Auditorium with President of Dhaka Ahsania Mission Kazi Rafiqul Alam in the chair.
The speakers at the workshop warned that Bangladesh had now become a AIDS risk area and said media could play an important role to help it come out of this situation. They said awareness campaign should be beefed up among the general people on HIV/AIDS with the help of the media. The workshop was organised with the assistance of Save the Children and Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM). Line Director of National AIDS/STD programme Dr Md Abdul Waheed presented a key-note paper titled “Journalist the Mirror”. DAM Assistant Director Iqbal Masud delivered the address of welcome.
Deputy Director of Save the Children Sheikh Masudul Alam, Chief News Editor of Bangla Vision Ruhul Amin Rushed and Social mobilization and Partner Advisor of UNAIDS Dr Nadia Rahman, among others, were present on the occasion. Representatives of different newspapers, news agencies and electronic media and international organizations also attended the workshop.
-With The Independent input
