Efforts a must to prevent HIV/AIDS: Speakers

RAJSHAHI: Speakers at a participatory discussion here yesterday unequivocally called for concerted efforts of all government and non-government organisations concerned to prevent HIV/AIDS and its existing vulnerabilities, reports BSS.
Besides, they viewed multi-sectoral approach should be adopted to ensure fundamental rights especially health, social and legal rights of the transgender people for uplifting their living condition and livelihood, speakers at a dialogue here said.
The observations came at a dialogue session with district level health providers for treatment MSM and TG held at BGB Party programme.
Civil Surgeon Office and Rajshahi Sonali Din Manob Kolyan Sangstha jointly organised the dialogue in association with “Strengthening peer lead initiative to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS on MSM and Transgender population in South Asia (CASG Programme)/SEED Programme”.
Civil Surgeon Dr Abdus Sobhan addressed the discussion as resource person while Azizur Rahman, project coordinator of Rajshahi Sonali Din, narrated the objectives of the dialogue.
Among other, Light House Manager Tahmina Akter and its field worker Ruma Khatun, Saiful Islam and Selina Banu of Civil surgeon office, Transgender Poly Akter and LOFS Programme Officer Champa Khatun took part in the open discussion.
The discussants mentioned that the members of transgender community are subjected to negligence and repression in every sphere of life including family and society.
The hijra community is essentially deprived of several rights under the country’s existing law, because it recognizes only two sexes, male and female. Time has come to promoting and protecting fundamental rights of the extreme socially excluded people.
The anomalous situation could be addressed after creating mass awareness through community sensitisation as the patients have equal rights to survive after deriving total benefits of all the state facilities.
Civil Surgeon Dr Abdus Sobhan said a strong community support has become indispensable to free the population from stigmatised socially for protecting their fundamental rights. He said the society, as a whole, should come forward with a positive attitude towards the socially excluded people for their coexistence in the society.
Emphasis should be given on integrated efforts towards ensuring human rights and healthcare to the hizra community for substantial and sustainable reduction of their existing vulnerabilities.
Education, awareness and targeted information on the risks of contracting HIV/AIDS need to be widely disseminated among not only sex workers but also clients to ensure improved condom use.
Dr Abdus Sobhan stated that the universal access is a commitment to scale up access to HIV treatment, prevention, care and support with the cooperation from government development partners and civil society.

Efforts a must to prevent HIV/AIDS: Speakers

RAJSHAHI: Speakers at a participatory discussion here yesterday unequivocally called for concerted efforts of all government and non-government organisations concerned to prevent HIV/AIDS and its existing vulnerabilities, reports BSS. Besides, they viewed multi-sectoral approach should be adopted to ensure fundamental rights especially health, social and legal rights of the transgender people for uplifting their living condition and livelihood, speakers at a dialogue here said. The observations came at a dialogue session with district level health providers for treatment MSM and TG held at BGB Party programme. Civil Surgeon Office and Rajshahi Sonali Din Manob Kolyan Sangstha jointly organised the dialogue in association with Strengthening peer lead initiative to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS on MSM and Transgender population in South Asia (CASG Programme)/SEED Programme. Civil Surgeon Dr Abdus Sobhan addressed the discussion as resource person while Azizur Rahman, project coordinator of Rajshahi Sonali Din, narrated the objectives of the dialogue. Among other, Light House Manager Tahmina Akter and its field worker Ruma Khatun, Saiful Islam and Selina Banu of Civil surgeon office, Transgender Poly Akter and LOFS Programme Officer Champa Khatun took part in the open discussion. The discussants mentioned that the members of transgender community are subjected to negligence and repression in every sphere of life including family and society. The hijra community is essentially deprived of several rights under the countrys existing law, because it recognizes only two sexes, male and female. Time has come to promoting and protecting fundamental rights of the extreme socially excluded people. The anomalous situation could be addressed after creating mass awareness through community sensitisation as the patients have equal rights to survive after deriving total benefits of all the state facilities. Civil Surgeon Dr Abdus Sobhan said a strong community support has become indispensable to free the population from stigmatised socially for protecting their fundamental rights. He said the society, as a whole, should come forward with a positive attitude towards the socially excluded people for their coexistence in the society. Emphasis should be given on integrated efforts towards ensuring human rights and healthcare to the hizra community for substantial and sustainable reduction of their existing vulnerabilities. Education, awareness and targeted information on the risks of contracting HIV/AIDS need to be widely disseminated among not only sex workers but also clients to ensure improved condom use. Dr Abdus Sobhan stated that the universal access is a commitment to scale up access to HIV treatment, prevention, care and support with the cooperation from government development partners and civil society.