| Although Bangladesh continues to be a low | | | | syringe while taking drugs. Even they use the |
| prevalence area, it is surrounded by high | | | | same syringe several times for taking drug.UNCDP |
| prevalence countries (High prevalence of HIV | | | | estimates that between 500,000 and 1,00,000 |
| AIDS in neighboring India). We however must not | | | | people in Bangladesh are addicted to drugs. |
| adopt a complacent attitude in respect as our | | | | Although HIV rates are comparatively lower (one |
| country has all the determinants for an explosive | | | | per cent) among the sex workers but Sexually |
| outbreak of HIV/AIDS epidemic. Curses of | | | | Transmitted Infection (STI) rates are still quite |
| poverty, illiteracy, ignorance, proximity of | | | | high (20 per cent) among this group.On the other |
| Bangladesh to the so-called 'Golden Triangle' & high | | | | hand, brothel-based female sex workers in |
| prevalence of STDs, make our country seriously | | | | Bangladesh report the highest turnover of clients |
| vulnerable. Drug use increases the HIV risk and | | | | than anywhere in Asia (an average of 18.8 clients |
| can start very early-for example, glue-sniffing by | | | | per week).Meanwhile, most of the people of |
| youngsters living or working on the streets. The | | | | country are unaware about the deadly disease. |
| danger of becoming infected with HIV by sharing | | | | The 1999-2000 Bangladesh Demographic and |
| injecting equipment is well known, and real. | | | | Health Survey found that only 31 per cent of |
| Unemployment, slum housing, family fragility, | | | | married women and 50 per cent of newly |
| frequent cross-border movement of people, lack | | | | married men had heard of AIDS. Over 90 per |
| of information, unsafe blood transfusion, physical | | | | cent of rickshaw pullers could not identify a single |
| and sexual abuse-that create a "risk environment" | | | | method of HIV prevention.About 13,000 to 17,000 |
| of violence for many young people in the region. | | | | people are living with the incurable virus in |
| In addition increased number of migrant workers, | | | | Bangladesh, according to the UNAIDS report |
| unsafe practice in health service, unsafe sex | | | | 2001.According to the National AIDS Committee |
| practice etc. movement of population, less use of | | | | and surveillance team members and experts, the |
| condom, polygamy, homosexuality, extra-marital | | | | rate is quite alarming as it remains one per cent |
| relations, further increases the susceptibility.In | | | | less than the highest five per cent HIV epidemic |
| Bangladesh, the intravenous drug users (IDU) are | | | | index. The rate of HIV/AIDS remains less than |
| the most potential carriers of HIV/AIDS among | | | | one per cent among the other vulnerable groups |
| the vulnerable groups in the country. The fourth | | | | -- truckers, migrant workers, gay, hijras |
| round of national HIV and behavioural surveillance | | | | (hermaphrodites), professional blood donors, heroin |
| report showed that the HIV infection rate among | | | | smokers and, hotel, brothel and street based |
| the injection drug users (IDUs) is now 4 per cent, | | | | commercial sex workers.Bangladesh is bordered |
| up from 2.5 per cent previously which is just | | | | with India, the second largest HIV infected |
| short of the 5 per cent mark of a concentrated | | | | country in the world; the country is therefore at |
| epidemic. About 93.4 per cent IDUs in central | | | | high risk for the HIV epidemic, said Morten |
| Bangladesh admitted that they share same | | | | Giersing, UNICEF's country representative. |