Prevention of HIV/STI/AIDS at Chittagong City Corporation in Bangladesh

HIV/AIDS is an extra-ordinary kind of crisis, which is both emergency and long-term development issue for the communities across the world. AIDS epidemic continue to outpace the global response. No region of the world has been spared from the mild to vivid attack of the epidemic. It remains extremely dynamic, growing and changing character as the virus exploits new opportunities for transmission. More than 20 years and 20 million deaths since the first HIV/AIDS diagnosis in 1981, globally an estimated 39.4 million people are living with HIV/AIDS in 2004 alone, 3.1 million people died another 4.9 million people were newly infected with HIV/AIDS . Each day there 14000 new infections, more than 40 % of which are young people. Only 7% of the people in low and middle-income country had limited access to treatment.

The scenario of Bangladesh ahs been alarming as one of the high risk countries with approximately 13000 HIV positive carrier. With the given socio-economic and religious fabrics of the 140 million of population it is in further threshold of sporadic spread of HIV/AIDS epidemic as definition of safer sex is not clear to more than majority of the sexuality active population. The geo-physical location of the country has made to country further vulnerable to HIV/AIDS epidemic attack, as it has almost unprotected boundary with all of the neighboring country. All of the Indian state like, Tripura, Manipur, West Bengal and Asam and Mayanmar in the south are very prone to the AIDS epidemics with almost 50% of the Sex workers found to be HIV positive. Thousands of the people are crossing the borders everyday for trade, commerce, treatment and tourism etc which added new dimension in the spreading trend.

The fluidity in international markets and especially the lack of economic stability in the rural and urban areas in Bangladesh has erupted into non-stop movement within global communities and among communities, mirrored in growing prevalence of HIV. The epidemics themselves are more fluid, passing infection through truckers, traders, contract laborers, sailors, fishermen, traveling salesmen and their sexual partners, many of whom are sex workers, who can increase the spread of HIV in communities exponentially through sexual networks. In the island areas like Hatia, for example, migrant workers originate from the Gulf States, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal and Singapore, while sailors passing through the country’s prime port of Chittagong also consist of Chinese, Croatians, Greeks, Ghanaians, Indonesians, Koreans, Pakistanis, Poles, Russians, Slovenians, Sri Lankans and Ukrainians.

BISAP has been implementing a project titled : “Prevention of HIV/STI/AIDs in Chittagong in Bangladesh” in several Wards of City Corporation with the financial assistance of Embassy of Ireland. The overall goal of the project is to; strengthening prevention of STIs and HIV/AIDS in Chittagong City area. The main objectives of the programme is to aware community people of the targeted area along with local authority, educational institutions, health service providers, local leaders, Transport union leader, local community, Garments authority & workers, rickshaw pullers, auto drivers and small businessman.

A View of Training to Doctors on prevention of HIV/AIDS in city Hospital	A View of Awareness Raising Training to Automobile Drivers on Prevention of HIV/AIDS
A View of Awareness Raising Session to School Teacher on Prevention of HIV/AIDS	A View of Rally on World AIDS Day
A View of Discussion Session with School Teacher Organized by BISAP	BISAP's Tarining Officer is Seen Discussing with Participants During Court Yard Session.
Anatomy Department's Head Professor Dr. Kazi Rafiqul Haque
BISAP Organized Training to Doctors on HIV/STI/AIDS. Training to Doctors on Sanitization for Prevention of HIV/STI/AIDS was organized on  at 15/09/2009 USTC Maulana Bhasani Auditorium Chittagong  by Bangladesh Integrated Social Advancement Programme (BISAP). The opening session of the Training started at 12.P.M. where Anatomy Department's Head Professor Dr. Kazi Rafiqul Haque was on the chair. The USTC Advocacy Director  and Head of community medicine Dr. Jalaluddin in his speech emphasized  on prevention of HIV/STI/AIDS  pandemic and spread of other STDs, efforts to inform the public are critical. He also told that the threat of HIV/AIDS has already highlighted the importance of programme that help women and men-especially young people-strengthen communication and negotiating skill to prevent this dread disease and cure for the patient. For young people successful strategies also stress comprehensive sexuality education. He was chief guest on the Training. The said Training was conducted by Dr. Shahnewaz Siraj Mamun focused on social mobilization  on the epidemic. He also said individuals groups, and government face the challenge of breaking down the barriers for young people to seek the information, services and supplies required to reduce the risk of infection or to treat the illness. Prevention is better then cure. So, to create awareness against HIV/AIDS, "STOP AIDS" slogan, movement to make the world free from HIV/AIDS have most important roles to prevent HIV/AIDS. Anti HIV/AIDS campaign conducted by BISAP have great contribution to aware the general  population. Young are more vulnerable at the present situation in Bangladesh because Bangladesh is thickly populated country. Unemployment lack of education, poverty are the common problems among the youth. Beside Mr. Mujibur Rahman BISAP's Programme Manager highlighted the several activities on prevention of HIV/STI/AIDS The Training was participated by  50  more Doctors. Staff members of BISAP were overall supervision of the organized Training. The Executive Director of BISAP & other program staff were also present on the occasion.