HIV awareness can make a difference

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) damages the immune system of a human body making it feeble to fight off diseases. As we know, it can spread through unprotected sex with an infected person. An HIV-infected mother can pass the disease to her children. HIV as of now is a preventable, but not curable, disease. Prevention, therefore, is the best way to stave off this killer infection.

Approximately, 36.7 million people across the world are living with HIV/AIDS. Among them, 2.1 million are children who are less than 15 years of age. Around 5,000 new infections occur globally every day. This is a very serious issue, indeed.

Globally, awareness has been a key to prevent HIV and AIDS. But the problem with Bangladesh's society is that such issues are deemed as taboos. No one wants to talk or discuss openly about it.

Although Bangladesh is a country with low HIV prevalence, there is no scope to stay complacent about it. Everyone needs to remain alert. People in the country should also understand that HIV cannot be passed through social contact like shaking hands, hugging, sharing cups or utensils. Also, they should know about the various ways through which the virus actually transfers.

There are many migrants who are going abroad to seek work while leaving their families back home. Awareness among them about HIV and its transfer can also result in a positive difference with regard to HIV prevalence in Bangladesh.

Saiful Islam

Baridhara DOHS, Dhaka