More public awareness about HIV/AIDS risk factors stressed

RAJSHAHI, May 20 (BSS): Speakers at a dialogue session with district HIV authority here Wednesday unequivocally called for more public awareness about the existing risks of HIV/AIDS to prevent its havoc.

They laid stress on collective efforts of all quarters especially the community people together with the law enforcing agencies, narcotics and drug control department and all other gatekeepers to prevent the deadly disease effectively.

They were addressing the session styled "Strengthening Peer Lead Initiative to Reduce the Impact of HIV/AIDS on MSM and Transgender Population in South Asia (CASG Programme)/SEED Grants Project" held at Master Chef Restaurant in the city.

Sonali Din Manob Kollyan Sangstha organised the programme in association with Project Diva and Bandhu Social Welfare Society to extract well-thought-out opinions from various government and non-government agencies on how to expedite the anti-HIV/AIDS activities.

Civil Surgeon Dr Abdus Sobhan, who addressed the workshop as the chief guest, said HIV/AIDS is not only a health issue but also a social development concern. He stressed the need for more coordination among different organizations and stakeholders to attain cherished results.

He added that only the government or any single organisation isn't capable to resist the HIV/AIDS infection as its risk and vulnerability is gradually being increased due to various reasons.

The Hijra community is essentially deprived of several rights in the present social context. "There is an acute stigma in our society about the HIV/AIDS which we cannot freely discuss it at our dining table as it is very much related to sexual transmission and drug injection," added Dr Sobhan.

During his welcome address, Azizur Rahman local unit coordinator of Sonali Din Monob Kolyan Sangstha, said strong network among the organisations working in this field has become an urgent need to attain desired result.