Yasmin Reema

“Societal scorn and pity engulfs the entire family when afflicted with this deadly disease. The contempt caused by the society has pushed him and his family members into the darkness of despair. They are alive but because of this existence there is no life. There is no desire for life" was expressed by private development organization Drishti while introducing Aids-affected grandchild Momena Begum at a stage of the day-long program titled 'Advocacy Meeting on HIV/AIDS Prevention' at Comilla Zilla Parishad Milayatan. She had a happy family with a businessman husband and two children, but she did not know or understand when the disease took root in her body. His eldest child is 13 and his younger son is three, but both are HIV-free.

On one day in November 2004, he was suddenly diagnosed with fever with diarrhoea, advanced cough and was admitted to District Headquarters Hospital. Typhoid struck again within a month. The doctor said he was suffering from AIDS. After that, with the help of non-governmental organization Drishti, he got shelter in Asha Alo Society. Get rid of social duality.

Momena is not alone in Ashar Alo Society - Rita, Salma, Asma, Smriti and all of them have the same dedication to escape from family and social neglect and neglect. UP chairman, members, government officials at the police station level and editors and journalists of the local daily and weekly newspaper were speechless at the description of Momena's miserable life. AKM Aminul Rashid, Executive Director of Ashar Alor, a voluntary organization, informed that they provided healthcare to 139 patients with HIV. Among them, 40 women, 93 men and 6 children, their age is 2 years to 11 years, each of them is affected by either father or mother. The fathers of these 6 children were migrant workers but two are dying. These children from low and middle class families are affected by various crises. All mothers are infected with HIV virus. Basic rights like food and shelter are not being fulfilled. He has huge medical expenses. Moreover, these ignorant children are also victims of oppression in social life.

Even expelled from school. Sadikin was studying in a school in Dhaka's Mirpur area. After the death of his father, how did it become known that his father died of AIDS. The next day Sadikin was expelled from the school. The headmistress called his mother and made it clear that her son could no longer be kept in school. Regarding the treatment of AIDS patients, Dr.Nazrul Islam, a retired professor of virology department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Medical University, said that if AIDS patients are treated in hospital, the patient gets relief from all aspects. Treatment costs for AIDS patients are also high. A tablet costs about 74 rupees.

In the medical sector, one person spends at least 3 to 4 thousand rupees per month. It is not possible for most of them to bear this cost personally. Hospitalization reduces the personal cost of the patient. A child's medical expenses are at least 3 thousand rupees per month. No syrup for children. So tablets should be mixed with honey. The price is too high. In Bangladesh, Beximco Pharmaceuticals and Gonoshasthya manufactures AIDS drugs.

Dr. Nasifa Abedin said that the number of AIDS patients in Bangladesh is 14 thousand 729 according to the official estimates. According to the data of private organizations, it will be three times more. The UN AIDS statistics are 18 thousand and according to the World Health Organization (WHO) there are 23 thousand HIV / AIDS patients in Bangladesh. At present, arrangements have been made to treat AIDS patients at Mohakhali's Infectious Disease Hospital. According to the expert, due to the high price, the drug is currently not being considered to be imported. List of medicines approved by FDA and their prices are available on this website: Recently, Bangladesh Parliament Members Support Group (BPMSG) highlighted the problems of AIDS patients in the exchange meeting on prevention of AIDS and human trafficking.

Expressing sympathy for AIDS patients, the authorities of Mumtaz Adarsh Orphanage in Uttara's Abdullah City sheltered two healthy children of an AIDS-affected mother in the orphanage. Meanwhile, Bangladesh participated in the 76th Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on HIV/AIDS held in June 2021 and declared its support for the "Declaration of the Community on HIV/AIDS". Key issues for addressing the AIDS epidemic are outlined in this declaration. In implementing the commitments of the “Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS”, priority should be given to creating public awareness for the prevention of HIV/AIDS. The theme of this year's World AIDS Day is "Noisy" in Bengali "AIDS Prevention is our commitment" has been adopted in the light of the "Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS".

The people and government of Bangladesh have been very aware of the horr ors of AIDS since the beginning. Aiming at the severity of this disease, the National AIDS Committee (GHAC) was formed in 1985 and is still functioning. Bangladesh National AIDS Policy has been formulated and approved by the government. Through which various activities are being undertaken to prevent AIDS. Programs aimed at behavioral change to prevent AIDS are being implemented. At least 24 NGOs are working to create awareness about AIDS prevention at the field level. Aids Prevention Health and Family Planning with Ministry of Finance, Religion, Home, Information, Women and Children, Youth and Sports Labor and Foreign Welfare Education, Social Welfare and Posts and he Ministry of Telecommunication is working simultaneously. Legislation has already been enacted for safe blood transfusion. A total of 97 centers includin

g district headquarters, medical colleges and specialized hospitals have been set up to detect the virus. Since 1998 World AIDS Day, taking up National HIV/AIDS activities, providing training to Departments, Upazila City Corporation, Red Crescent Society, Police Department, Labor Organisations, Journalists, Youth, campaigning slogans/slogans on TV and Radio and in double-decker buses. A National Action Plan has been formulated to review the HIV/AIDS situation in Bangladesh, identify risks for the epidemic of risky behaviors and activities implemented so far.

Providing services and support to priority populations, risk-prevention of HIV infection in Bangladesh, promoting safe and secure practices in the health care system, providing services and support to people living with HIV/AIDS, and mitigating the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Regarding the current status of HIV/AIDS, Health Minister Zahid Malik said in a seminar for journalists on prevention of AIDS organized by Bangladesh Press Institute recently, "HIV/AIDS has not yet become widespread in Bangladesh due to existing social values, religious practices, family customs and culture. Bangladesh is at risk due to the widespread spread of AIDS in neighboring countries. To keep Bangladesh free from the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the active cooperation of people at all levels and the timely initiative of the government is absolutely essential which we have. Combining these two forces, we must now move forward with a strong commitment to fighting the pandemic.”

The writer is a, Jounalist & Columnist